In his poem “I Will Light Candles This Christmas,” Howard Thurman talks about illuminating the world with more than just wax-dipped wicks flickering with yellow flames. Rather, the light the theologian and civil rights leader envisions burning brightly is the light of Christ shining through us — the light that dashes away sadness with joy, replaces fear with courage and banishes despair with hope.
People’s given names say a lot about their pride, their identity, their ancestry and even their faith. Justice and respect say should honor those names.
