"It gets darker and darker, and then Jesus is born." Wendell Berry
I've always drawn inspiration from the phrase from the Gospel of John: ". . . the light shines in the darkness,and the darkness has not overcome it.1" Christians believe that in the midst of the darkest night and the deepest suffering, there is cause for hope. Although Christians believe that the source of hope is ultimately a grace to be received, it is also one that requires active participation. A powerful phrase made popular by Amnesty International captures this idea. "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness."2
On Christmas 2015, I would like to mash up two seemingly disparate videos that are linked through the idea that we can find hope in the midst of darkness. The first video clip comes from Neil Halloran who reminds us of the devastating impact of World War II. The number of military and civilian deaths is staggering. Although it seems that the world is more violent and darker than ever, Halloran demonstrates that there is a relative peace. Yes, we need to work harder to be agents of peace, but we need to remember and believe that we are making progress. The second video clip comes from one of my favorite movies, "The Children of Men." I would advise you to trust me and just jump in and watch it. The preview trailer has some significant spoilers. In its own way, the movie demonstrates the idea that hope can come even in the darkest and bleakest moments.
The Fallen of World War II from Neil Halloran on Vimeo.
Children of Men: Deep Dive
This is deep dive into the visual symbolism of Alfonso Cuarón's classic movie, "The Children of Men." Come back and watch this after you have watched the movie.
