As we were doom scrolling the other day, we felt melancholy, hopeless and sad. The world around us has felt heavy and we can feel we are in a season of darkness. When we walk through the dark, we look for little signs of light or hope.

At L’Arche Tahoma Hope we too feel the heaviness around us and we are all impacted. Let’s be honest. There are a lot of heavy things happening in our world, and we are still heavy with grief at the loss of Cindy and Sue. The days are getting longer and brighter but we are still in the throes of darkness. I think there’s probably some saying about how the light is easiest to see when it’s dark. So here are some places where we are seeing the light!

In the past, part of Stacie’s evening routine each night was to sing songs with her before she went to bed. We all sang and she sang with us. Whether it was “This Little Light of Mine,” Down to the River to Pray,” “True Colors,” or “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” Stacie sang with gusto and of course brought her own dance moves. Each night after the shower she would hop into bed, hold our hands, and then we’d sing! 

She would literally light up. This was always a bright spot in our daily routines while at Ananda. Singing with Stacie is a treasured memory that we will hold dear forever that gives us a source of light. 

Stacie doesn’t sing like she used to and she doesn’t dance anymore either. However, we know she’s still listening while we sing gently, faithfully, and with each other. This is what hope feels like these days, to sing gently, faithfully and with each other, even when it feels like no one is listening.