I love the darkness of night. There’s something about standing outside late at night and soaking in the darkness—the night sky. I enjoy looking at the constellations I know nothing about and watching for surprises – satellites, shooting stars, bats… Even when the full moon lightens the night sky and stars are hidden. Yes, even then!
Essentially, the darkness is a place of surprise. Hear something in the bushes, and you imagine all those fearful animals who hunt at night. Read a scary book, and the night is a place to be feared – why do frightful things happen at night?
A few months ago, my bride and I wandered deep into the backyard, late at night. I recorded the coyotes yipping. They are dangerous animals to our pets but beautiful when they frolic and yip in family play. I recorded them (audio)… (Read about it and listen here.)
We have all had scary things that happened in the dark.
But you also know that the night has light…but you have to slow time down so you can capture it like the timed gathering of light to illuminate even the fence. (Blog photo)
“It’s during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” ~Aristotle Onassis
Learning To Know The Night
It happens in the darkness of a cave. Deep underground, the smallest light will draw everyone close. Extinguish that last glow; you hear the gasps of others who are startled by the moment. Do you dare move? What’s over there? Did I hear something move? Quick. Restore the light!
Yet, to a feline, the lightless night is a friend. Their eyes are adapted to be able to see in the night. Where you and I struggle, they shine!
Through my years of photography, I’ve struggled with illumination to capture images in darkness. Learning to keep an aperture open long enough to soak in enough light for an image to be captured is my failure. Too long, and the image is washed out. Not enough time, and it’s unseen—steady the camera: brace and still against vibrations. Open the aperture wide and long enough. Will the image arrive?
Maybe the problem is not in attempting to understand the night, but in comprehending light.
In 8th grade, Science, Mr. Doolittle, we learned that a shined light keeps going until it hits an obstacle. Think about starlight at night. It travels faster than we can imagine. The further away we see it, the dimmer and smaller it is. But starlight has been headed outward for thousands of years, and we can still see its historical gleam. Think about it! The light of a star is thousands of years old and has come many light-years in the distance.
Perhaps the problem is not the night after all.
Think About It
Our light continues to shine until something blocks its pathway. Who we are is seen across the miles and through the years. It never changes. Yes, it will dim with time, but that’s simply the process of light. Does a star ever quit shining? Sure. But it will be hundreds and thousands of years before we know it.
Jesus taught us to let our light shine before men so that they may see our good works, and those that see will glorify God in heaven! (Matthew 5:16) He even teaches that he must work while there is “light” because the night will come when no man can work. (John 9:4)
What you store up in the lit days of working will reflect during the dark days when it’s difficult to get anything accomplished.
It is in the darkness of night that we revel in the little light that is seen through the years.
Else, why study our past? History? What we see done in times gone by reflects our path through centuries. Shed some modern light on the past, and we are aghast by what is revealed. It wasn’t perfect back then. Crude and Rude comes to mind. We’ve glossed over the negative and positives with the dim light revealed through the years. With clarity of the modern light, we often see the past for what it was. Imperfect. Insensitive. Un-caring. Wrong on so many levels.
But that was all they knew!
Modern Light Dispels the Night
Modern light should show us the reality of then and help us realize there was no better answer for the times. Think about the lack of contact over the miles of countryside. No phone. No internet. Word of mouth news that was so full of personal slants.
Even what we see with our modern eyes are suspect in today’s open economy of words. Images. Slants.
I read a quote a few weeks ago and it has stayed with me. I do not know the author, or the work it comes from, but the words speak volumes.
“Everything I describe took place while I was watching it, but I do not believe that honest observation is enough. The emotions and behavior of the watcher are also facts, and they must be truthfully recorded.”
~J.A. Baker, The Peregrine
Even with modern light, we see from what we are. It is not necessarily what others see, or experience. It’s very personal. We choose how we see with modern light. Our experiences, slanted views, and outlook on life comes into play. Each year, technology unveils new approaches to the past, and we all know what that means!
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
~Arthur C Clarke
Don’t believe me? Check out Deep Nostalgia. It’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) that brings old photos to life! [Click Here] Magic!
You Can Plumb The Darkness
When it comes to certain aspects of our past, some things are the laws of who we are today. And, how we live… or should live. The light from our past is dim. It barely pokes a hole in our darkness.
Where as this thought taken me? It’s my spiritual perspective I’m talking about.
We live in a cultural well of identity that tells us how we are to live today. Well…a well is often a hole in the ground, and the deeper you go, the more light you need to comprehend the darkness. What’s necessary about a well? The water that comes from it, not the hole dug to access it! Some wells are natural springs and come from an underground abundant source. Others require work to access life-giving water.
The Darkness of The Night Is Dispelled – The light from our past is dim. It barely pokes a hole in our darkness. We also need modern light to dispel the darkness. Click To TweetAs a kid we tried to dig a well for a house in the country. Dad found a hand auger, we expertly guessed a place, and begin the arduous circuitous route of getting to the water table below. Sandy loam does not “dig” well. It sluffs off faster than you can open a path. After a day, dad decided it was time for an expert. Vanya Well Company dug rather close to our original spot, and 135 feet and 3 hours later we had the makings of a source of water!
Accessing natural water is no different than a spiritual path. Guidance and support, and knowing the right depth and location, and having the best resources.
Wrap It Up
Throughout the gospels, Jesus is quoted as describing our walk as a light to those who are in darkness. Just as we walk in His Light, we reflect what we are illuminated with. Following Jesus means we are reflecting His Light, just as the moon reflects only the light of the sun. We may have a charisma that is our personality, but we reflect only what we associate with.
Essentially, you have the opportunity to improve through your years to be a better reflection of Christ.
I’ve loved this portion of a poem for years, and though I’m not a follower of the author, I do believe the truth of the words gives light to my path.
Three men went down the road,
as down the road went he.
The man he was.
The man he saw.
And the man he hoped to be.
~A.E. Houseman
Much of our ability to dispel darkness comes from this perspective. Who you are, along with who you see, and finally in that person, you hope to be.
