It had been a lonely holy week for me this year in Dhaka away from my loving family. As I left my apartment for the Easter vigil in the beautiful church nearby, I remembered   that I need to take a candle with me for the Easter blessing.

The previous year I went to church hoping to buy a candle there, but I could not find one. As I was following the mass and when the light was being shared from the Easter candle, a gentleman who was next to me offered me a candle. I did accept with gratitude, thanking god for the gift.

As I was pondering where I could buy one this time, I remembered I had a bundle of new candles in my apartment which I had purchased to use for the ‘point of light’ exercise I conduct during my ‘Mastery of Self’ playshops’ [We name our training workshop, playshops, due to the childlike atmosphere we create to speed up learning in a fun manner].

When I reached for the candles, something told me I need to take two candles, not just one and I know it was my inner need to pay back the favour I received last year.

As the light was been passed in church today I looked around but did not see anyone without a candle and a tinge of disappointment went through my soul. After receiving the light I turned to the gentleman standing to my right  to pass on the light and low and behold he did not have a candle with him. I offered him the extra candle I had and the joy I felt is unexplainable.

Going through the beautiful Easter vigil my mind kept going to the song ‘Point of Light’ by Randy Travis that we play in our Mastery of Self Playshops. The lyrics reminded me of the need for me and all of us to be a point of life. [please see below for the lyrics and the YouTube video of points of light]

We become a point of light when we reach out to feed the hungry, we become a point of light when we reach out to save the land, we become a point of light when we reach out to help fellow men and women.

And, we become a point of light when we stand up for justice, we become a point of light when we give shelter to the homeless,  We become a point of light when we give a ray of hope for a life that’s dark.

And, we become a point of light when we see what’s wrong and try to make it right, we become a point of light when we teach our children that everything is possible, we become a point of light when we share our knowledge and love with each other.

So as we celebrate Easter lets become a point of light, a ray of hope in the darkest night.

Point of Light by Randy Travis  

There’s a point when you cannot walk away
When you have to stand up straight and tall and mean the words you say
There’s a point you must decide just to do it ’cause it’s right
That’s when you become a point of light

There’s a darkness that everyone must face
It wants to take what’s good and fair and lay it all to waste
And that darkness covers everything in sight
Until it meets a single point of light

All it takes is a point of light,
A ray of hope in the darkest night.
If you see what’s wrong,
And you try to make it right,
You will be a point of light.

There are heroes whose names we never hear
A dedicated army of quiet volunteers
Reaching out to feed the hungry,
Reaching out to save the land
Reaching out to help their fellow men.

There are dreamers who are making dreams come true
Taking time to teach the children there’s nothing they can’t do.
Giving shelter to the homeless, giving hope to those without,
isn’t that what this land’s all about?

One by one from the mountains to the sea,
Points of light are calling out to you and me

All it takes is a point of light a ray of hope in the darkest night.

If you see what’s wrong and you try to make it right, you will be a point of light.

If you see what’s wrong and you try to make it right, you will be a point of light.