When people hear the phrase "surviving the darkness," they often think of a single life-changing event.
For me, darkness wasn't one event.
It was a season.
A season of uncertainty.
A season where I was applying for jobs, waiting for phone calls that never came, questioning my future, and wondering whether the things I was building would ever become what I hoped they could be.
At the same time, I was helping build Rainbow Unity.
What many people don't see is that organizations aren't built during the good times. They're built during the difficult times.
They're built when you're tired.
They're built when people leave.
They're built when plans don't work.
They're built when you're not sure if anyone is paying attention.
There were moments when I questioned myself.
Was I doing enough?
Was I moving in the right direction?
Was Rainbow Unity making a difference?
What I learned is that darkness has a way of asking hard questions. But it also reveals strengths you didn't know you had.
I learned that resilience isn't about being fearless.
It's about continuing to show up even when you're scared.
It's hosting the meeting when only a few people attend.
It's posting the content when engagement is low.
It's believing in the mission when the results haven't arrived yet.
The truth is, surviving the darkness isn't glamorous.
Most days it's simply making the choice to keep going.
One more day.
One more meeting.
One more conversation.
One more opportunity.
And eventually, those small decisions begin to add up.
Today, Rainbow Unity continues to grow. New people continue to find our community. New ideas continue to emerge.
Not because the darkness disappeared overnight.
But because we refused to stop moving through it.
If you're in a dark season right now, I want you to know something:
You don't have to have everything figured out.
You don't need all the answers.
You just need enough hope to take the next step.
Sometimes surviving the darkness is the victory.
And sometimes that survival becomes the foundation for everything that comes next.
— Solomon Roberson
Founder, Rainbow Unity
