Photon Light
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I worked as the volunteer coordinator for the wardrobe department for Opening and Closing Ceremonies during the Olympics in 2002, and gained 300 new friends in the volunteers that were placed under my care. They were the cream of the crop, and literally pulled off a miracle as they altered and constructed over 6,000 costumes in record time! One of these was a woman named Virginia, who had some pretty severe speech and physical limitations. Her body didn’t function the way my other volunteer’s did, but her mind was all there. Virginia preformed her duties as good as or better than most, and dedicated more time than many others.
Because we were working backstage at Rice Eccles Stadium in the dark, we had to be able to see what we were doing. Many of my volunteers needed a small light to clip to their identification credentials lanyard. I already had one of my own and was extremely busy with so many other responsibilities; I remember hesitating whether to take the time to order the lights or not. I knew it would be a nice gesture since I already knew where to get them. I also knew it would help my volunteers so they would not have to go out searching for such a specialized type of light, as they were very busy too! I placed an order for 200 of these lights, with the hope that my volunteers would purchase them from me at my cost from the manufacturer, so that I could recoup only the money I had put out. Those that needed them were grateful and I only ended up with about five extra. The lights preformed their purpose and I didn’t think anything else about them, until I received a letter from Virginia, months after the Olympic Games.
She told me about a trip she had taken with another physically challenged friend of hers. I’m not sure where it was, but they were on a tour of some caves somewhere. Their tour guide had not been kind to them and had not taken notice of their age and special needs. These two women were not able to keep up with the rest of the group and were left behind. Because the cave was not lit, Virginia and her friend soon found themselves in the pitch black darkness of the cold, wet cave. They could no longer see their way, and their calls for help fell on deaf ears. Virginia told me in her letter, that at first they were scared and began to cry. They sat down on the ground holding on to each other so as not to become separated. They were not even sure if they were still on the right pathway back out of the cave. She said they finally got control of themselves and began to pray. Virginia wrote, “It was as if a voice in my head reminded me of the light I carried on my keychain.” She fumbled through her purse in the dark and found her keys. Using this small light, Virginia was able to locate the path again, and guide them back to safety using her tiny light. She also said the guide never came back to look for them, and when they finally got to the opening of the cave everyone was gone!
She thanked me profusely and said she believed that tiny light had saved their lives that day, as she and her friend were able to find their way out of the darkness of the cave, back to the warmth and safety of the light of day. She went on in her letter to liken the little light to the Savior. She said He is the light that leads us out of the darkness. This light is just like the ones I ordered for the Olympics. After receiving Virginia’s letter, I realized I had been prompted to order the lights for a much more important reason than the Olympics. I shudder when I think how I almost didn’t act on the impression to order the lights because I was too busy . . .
I wanted to share this light with you as a reminder of my sweet friend Virginia, and her faith to find the light in the midst of darkness. When we have a feeling or an impression to do something, if it’s a good thing, may we follow the prompting. More times than not, we will discover we are being led to be a light in someone else’s life. As we light the world, we can make a difference in the lives of so many. During the Civil War, there was a practice of placing a candle in the window with a promise it would be lit at night as a sign that loved ones waited for their dear ones to return home again; as well as a light to guide family members home in the darkness. We are all on our own journey to return home. Joseph Smith promised, as we serve others, and live up to our privilege, angels cannot be restrained from being our associates. Each time you look at this little light, may you feel the love that surrounds you from both sides of the veil.
-Leslie Johnson