Night is waiting
The allure of night combines mystery and danger. It is possible to enjoy these particular attributes on special holidays and occasions but usually we just fear the unknown possibilities. A major portion of every 24 hours is spent in this darkness with our eyes closed. It seems appropriate to use the night as the time we rest. It can be restorative and allows us to dream.
The monster in the closet
Children sometimes have nightmares. So do adults but we don’t always have a spare parent waiting down the hall to soothe our fears. You don’t hear about children having daymares. And adults don’t often take the time to day dream. We were told when we were young that staring off into space wasn’t a good habit because it appeared as though we weren’t listening. We probably weren’t but that alone did not make it a bad thing. Gradually, the pressures of adult life provided enough monsters that just worrying about paying the bills took the place of the unformed scary things that lurked in the closet. You couldn’t see them when you opened the door but you still knew that they were there. Especially in the corners in the back.
Light the way
Events that involve sparklers, bonfires, flashlights and candles all give darkness new branding. The little lights are exciting and unusual. And there are more. The comforting night light in the hallway is just bright enough to lead the way to the bathroom. The backlit reading device makes it possible to read without disturbing bed partners. The subtle glow of a TV becomes a friend who entertains when you can’t sleep and have to watch infomercials. Darkness developed a good side. The moon provides endless entertainment when you stare at its face and stay tuned to the way it changes its shape. The full moon makes you try and figure out exactly how astronauts were able to land there and come back.
Cuddling up to the dark side
Real courage comes when you choose to stand in the dark. It forces you to look inward and find your own glow. I definitely need a little inside glow. In the darkness, you have no other choice but to move forward without seeing what is in front of you. Darkness can even feel like a close friend when you sit with it in grief or illness or sadness. It shrouds you even when you didn’t know you needed to hide. It can feel safe. The balancing act occurs on remembering that you don’t want it to feel too safe. You want to love the light also.
Where does darkness stand in your life? Can you enjoy the cool deep night of life? Have you ever embraced your own darkside?
