When I think of igniting a light, my brain automatically sets up the image of a Fourth of July party with everybody holding their own individual sparklers. It's just begun to get dark, and the sparklers get so bright that at first, we're afraid to hold the sparklers so close. But without that closeness, we wouldn't get the chance to witness the fantastic beauty of that seemingly small moment of time where the sparklers shine. We forget the world around us, and we focus on those lights. We focus on the good.

Those sparklers are a fair representation of the hope we have to find the courage to ignite in struggling times. While we may be afraid of the possibility of being burned or even dropping the sparkler, we know that somehow we'll be safe if we just trust our instincts. We know that seeing the sparkler, burning bright in the darkened sky, is beyond any fear that would have originally held us back.

Truthfully speaking, that's the devastating beauty of the world. It has the capability to ignite our hopes and our dreams, but it also has the capability to destroy those hopes and dreams. The world is mysterious and it is filled with this unknown that can scare us beyond reason; however, if we can just find the strength to ignite the lights within ourselves, it'll start a wildfire. Light and hope will be ignited more and more until there is little darkness left.

We'll always have darkness in our lives... There's no way around that. But, if we use that darkness to fuel us and to push us closer to striking the match, I promise that it'll get easier to light the match and ignite your sparkler. Inhale that tragedy, and exhale beauty. Make something good of all of the bad. I know that's a hard task to ask of you. It's a hard task to ask of myself. But, if we can make something beautiful of the difficulties we've been through, is it not worth it?

Times will always be hard, and there will always be rough waters ahead, but much like any outdoor experience, the view is always worth the climb. Igniting hope and starting a revolution where light is leading our way is the only way to fight the darkness around us.