“A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness.”

– Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.

I have a lot of experience with motivational quotes. I’ve been sent hundreds, varying from inspiring to laughable, but I don’t think any of them have touched me the way this one has. Chabad.org shared it today, and no matter how many times I have looked at it, and thought about it, it still touches me. There’s no doubt that we’re living in the ‘Footsteps of Moshiach’- a time of darkness which directly precedes the arrival of Moshiach (may he come speedily and in our days), and it’s in times like this that we need light more than ever.

In the past, I thought light was a metaphor for grand gestures. The big things. Inviting people for Shabbes dinner; teaching women to light candles; getting men to put on tefillin. The big mitzvos which Chabad outreach revolves around. And of course these things bring light into the world, but recently, I’ve started to wonder what else constitutes light. Maybe it’s not strictly religious. Maybe it’s about making someone else smile.

I sometimes feel that I’ve spent a lot of my life living in darkness. I try not to complain, and I know that many people around the world have had lives much harsher than mine. Relatively, I am blessed. But I won’t deny that before I found Judaism- and, yes, even throughout my Jewish journey- I struggled a lot. I have dealt with the sort of trauma and grief that can only possibly be described as darkness- the sort of darkness which closes in around you and makes you question why you should carry on.

And it’s only when you’ve lived in pitch black darkness that you understand the power of light. If I had not been on the unique and excruciatingly painful journey which I have been on, I don’t think I’d understand this quote. I’d see it as that lovely, inspirational quote which we find on boxes of Shabbes candles, handed out to women who visit Chabad houses. I’d think that I understood it, but really, I wouldn’t.

But as I sit here today and look back upon all the little bits of ‘light’ which have entered my life- small gestures, good deeds, kind words- I remember how much darkness they dispelled, and I feel that I truly understand this quote. What’s more, I feel it’s my mission to give back to others what they gave to me. This quote appearing today wasn’t a coincidence. It was hashgocha protis- a call to action if you like. And I don’t know about you, but I’m going to act on it straightaway.