When You’re in the Dark

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. –Persian Proverb

I remember nights when I’d hear of a meteor storm and the weather man would tell us to go out of town, away from the light, to see the universe in action more clearly. I live in the country. I can still feel those evenings, sitting in the dark on the trampoline with my family, watching shooting stars overhead. We could see them so clearly because where we live it gets dark at night. When it’s that black outside, the tiniest light shines brightest.
But if you take this idea a bit deeper it can really open some stuff up for you. Darkness can also refer to a time in our lives when things may not appear to be going well. When those moments come, we’d do anything for a little light to illuminate the dark spots and bring some vision to our lives. But sometimes, unfortunately, those lights don’t shine. Sometimes it has to become very dark, dark enough, for the wee bit of light that’s out there to illuminate anything.
We all have those times in our lives. At least I hope I’m not the only one. I’m not afraid of the dark; I just like it best when I see things more clearly. Perhaps that’s not the way life is supposed to be. Sometimes you have to step out of the light and get into the dark, to bring back your focus. If you get too used to looking at the bright spots, you may forget how to focus when darkness sets in.
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.
I like that.

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  zach April 28, 2008 at 10:01 pm

  Your posting reminds me of when I was homeless not very long ago and sleeping in an abandoned park .I saw so many shooting stars there. The park has been demolished-no public hearing- and the pear and apple trees there that helped me survive were cut for some high priced crappy condos that got built . I had tried to sleep on the stairs of a church and they called the police. God bless the parks and the people who protect them. Thanks for your poetry Rick-it cultivates good thoughts. I dont resent churches now but I do take real issue with those who regularly try to take our parks away.