Wednesday 9th September started like most other days for me: listen to the headlines on Radio 4; cycle through a sleepy range of bafflement, occasional delight, but mainly anger or dismay, then onwards into a time of prayer that often feels like a refuge from the world. From 3.30pm, however, I found myself returning to that hopeful, compact piece of theology from John’s prologue: ‘And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’ I was at the BBC Radio Cornwall Make A Difference Awards in Truro, the proud guest of our very own Hilary, who was nominated in the volunteer category. The awards recognise and honour those people and groups who serve their communities and it would surprise absolutely no one who knows her that Hilary was a finalist in this category.
Hilary was nominated for the work she does for the Rainbow Project, which offers families emotional and practical support in our area. In this vocation, Hilary is driven by her faith and her commitment to social justice; as her friend, I’ve seen up close how these are not divisible. ‘Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith’: in Hilary, I see that passion for getting on and serving the needs of others embodying James’ message.
I’ve always loved the King James translation of John 1:5. Many modern translations use the word ‘overcome’, but ‘comprehended’ can take the weight of perhaps a richer interpretation, that of understanding. As I sat there watching the films of each nominee across eight categories, it occurred to me that the darkness does not understand the light. The light baffles it. It’s a daily temptation to see what we modestly refer to as ‘small acts of kindness’ (though no act of kindness is small in God’s economy) as not as real somehow as the great acts of violence and hard-heartedness currently engulfing our world, but they are. And though Hilary did not win in her category (receiving instead a highly commended award), every nominee there exemplified the logic of love, which the darkness simply cannot understand, much less overcome. May all the finalists and winners yesterday continue to do what they do, day by day, while we here in Penzance celebrate our dear friend Hilary with particular joy.
– Josie
