Let there be light!

"Darkness  falls across the land, the midnight call is close at hand".  These were the epic words at the end of Michael's Jackson's song Thriller.  Darkness can be terrifying and it has the ability to close in on us, much as the darkness became even tangible to the Egyptians during the 10 plagues. The ninth plague  was described as being so dark for 3 days, that not even a torch could penetrate it.  I personally never liked the dark, as a child and for a long time, it was very intimidating when one had to be in total darkness.  The same largely in today's modern world where there is much darkness prevailing and sometimes it feels like it is moving in to crush our resistance.  There is so much uncertainty and negativity, that we wonder how we will be able to make it through the deepening gloom.  In our country quite literally, we are expecting to spend a lot of time in the dark  in the next few weeks, as Eskom tries to stabilise the electricity grid.  But the fascinating thing about darkness, is that it only takes one ray of light, to burst through the darkest dark and the darkness has no option, but to flee and be gone.  Light penetrates darkness no matter what, and in the same way, we need to project our lives in a way, that we burst forth in light, whenever we feel darkness approaching.  We can bring light to others in so many and easy ways, that I wonder why we do not do so more often.  From a well placed smile, or an encouraging word at a vital time, or a helping hand without seeking thanks, or a simple act of kindness, every one of these has the ability to cut through the darkness and permeate light.  We have all in this country been in a situation, where we are going about our business and suddenly the lights go off. Sometimes, things happen in our lives, when we think we are in the light and suddenly we find that it is dark all around us.  It can be intimidating because we were not prepared for it so we fumble around for a bit, looking for a match, or a candle, or a torch - anything to help us ease the fear.  We are not sure what to do, until we light that candle and suddenly a small beam of light gives way to a feeling of  more confidence and we are ready to search for the other candles in  the house.  Things become easier and we open up and start talking and the tense atmosphere in the house is lifted.  We may even find that the mood becomes lighter and almost bearable and our trepidation gives rise to fresh hope of success and a chance to start again.  Lets try to bring light to one another with encouragement, belief in the good that we can do and giving an opportunity where, we may have opted to sit in the dark.  Remember the moment when the lights suddenly come back on from a power cut and how everything springs to life.  Take a risk and light a match, where others are struggling in the dark and it may open up a whole new way, to a more "enlightened" journey through life.