I recently watched a documentary where a popular singer gave a rousing performance of John Lennon’s song “Imagine” at a religious gathering. By the time he brought the song to a climactic end, thousands of people were caught up in a frenzy — crying out in a unison of heated passion over love and its possibility for bringing peace to a weary world. But, as should be well-evidenced by now, spiritual “fires” such as these last only as long as conditions conspire to create them, and any sudden downpour of dark moments serves to douse them, quickly extinguishing one’s hope for heaven on earth.

What we need, if we are to succeed with our spiritual task of changing ourselves and the world in which we live, is to stir ourselves up in the right way, in the right moment, and then act in accordance with what we know is true.

What good is the love of truth without standing up for the freedom it promises to those who love it? This means that we must find this passion for what is right and true while in the midst of all that seems wrong within and around us. We must dare to bring its flame into the midst of our storms, carrying it with us into the darkness that attends all times of trial. For only then and there will we see — as we stand in its light — that nothing dark is greater than the light of our God in whom we trust.