This morning—at 5:13 in our Northern Hemisphere—marked the summer solstice, one of my favorite days because it marks the day with the longest organic luminosity. (Summer is also my favorite season.)

As I think about this light, I am aware of all the darkness on our planet—this celestial body rotating on its axis, orbiting around our sun each day.

Sometimes, we forget the sorrow when caught up in the beauty. Sometimes we lose sight of joy as our world battles hatred, evil, and hunger.

Words are often inadequate in times of life-threatening challenges. Like, I imagine most of you, life throws me curveballs. The most saddening ones involve those I love most.

Many feel inadequate when we cannot “fix” something or change outcomes. (I experience that.)

So, I offer these words from a beautiful song by Lee Ann Womack and Sons of the Desert. They are not a panacea, of course, and they always move me to tears, but they offer hope.

“I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance. I hope you dance.”