Mess it Up Show 438 - MayhapMess it Up Show 438 - Mayhap
Mess It Up Podcast
Pastor Daniel Fusco brought up the point that Jes…
33:00•26 Aug 2026
Shining Light Instead of Yelling at the Dark
Episode Overview
- Shouting at the darkness rarely changes anything; bringing light through loving action can.
- Curiosity about people you dislike can reduce hatred and increase understanding.
- Grace means you can come back from your mess again and again and still be welcomed.
- Your behaviour may be the only "message" of faith and recovery some people ever see.
- Like the moon reflects the sun, you can reflect Christ’s light into dark places around you.
“Jesus didn't yell at the darkness… instead what he did was he shined his light into the darkness and dispersed it.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between the Bow Tie Guy and Bev leans into that question with a mix of humour, honesty, and faith-based recovery chat. The starting point is a line from Pastor Daniel Fusco: "Jesus didn't yell at the darkness...
instead what he did was he shined his light into the darkness and dispersed it." From there, the two talk about how easy it is to rage at problems, people, and politics, rather than bring light through kindness, curiosity, and grace. Dolly Parton becomes a surprising recovery role model, highlighted for using her influence and money to quietly support causes she cares about, from literacy projects to investing royalties back into marginalised communities.
Her approach is contrasted with the temptation to shout people down online or in person, and you’ll hear the hosts wrestle with their own tendencies to "yell at the darkness" in their thoughts and hearts. Bev shares about growing up sheltered and how that shaped her responses to conflict, while the Bow Tie Guy reflects on denial, sports tribalism, and how easy it is to become an accidental ambassador for anger rather than hope.
They tie this back to recovery, reminding you that you might be "the only Bible someone reads" and that your daily behaviour speaks loudly to those watching your sobriety and faith. The running image of the moon is both funny and memorable: as they joke about "mooning someone for Jesus", they point out that like the moon reflects the sun, people in recovery can reflect Christ’s light into dark places without shouting.
If you’re curious how faith, humour, and recovery can fit together, this episode might get you thinking about where you’re yelling at the darkness—and where you could start switching on the light instead.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.