There’s a quote from the Bible that says, “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”  

(Matthew 5:15-16). 

The dark. The Solstice. Despair. No one likes it! No one wants it! No one talks about it! We all avoid it! How come? 

It’s uncomfortable! And even painful! So, … Why go there? 

We have to go there because we can’t experience the fullness of light without walking through the emptiness of darkness.  

Navigating the darkness of our souls, psyches, and lives is painful. Many times, when pain comes up through loss, grief, or transition, we lose our way, feel alone, and have difficulty being with our emotions. We want to shut down, crawl into a hole, (or at least under our blanket), and hibernate until spring and the feelings thaw. We’re afraid to wallow, feel sorry for ourselves, or cry over spilled milk. Everyone expects us to be happy, to show the “I got this” face, and to move on. And yet, life isn’t this way! Life is full of grief. There’s no one on the planet who hasn’t lost a friend or family member. There’s no one on the planet who hasn’t been fired from a job! There’s no one on the planet who hasn’t grieved over a pet! There’s no one on the planet who hasn’t asked, who am I, what am I doing, or, where am I going? Every one of us has grieved, and every one of us will grieve again. We’re not alone in this cycle. 

How do we navigate the darkness? 

We navigate first by walking forward. Each of us walk at different speeds, gates, distances, or intensities. Some of us may walk, some crawl, some skip, and others jump. The one thing in common we have is we’re all moving on the psychological and spiritual path together.   

As a blind woman, I’m always in the physical dark. I often get lost and/or have to ask for directions. I can stumble over a curb or walk into a wall. Facing the unknown is my norm.   

What do I do to navigate?  

I ask for help 

I keep on moving forward 

I have faith that I’ll find my way home 

I trust in the process 

I use the tools given to me 

Does this mean I won’t get lost tomorrow? No. Does this mean I won’t encounter snow, rain, construction, or cars whizzing by? No. Does this mean I won’t ever trip, stumble, or have to ask for assistance? No.  

You see, there’re many people on my physical, psychological, and spiritual sidewalk with me. Some have answers, some don’t. We’re all doing the best we can with what we got.   

However, when you’re standing on the dark corner of your life, it’s hard to remember that others too are waiting with you to cross the next adventure/street of life with you. Look up!  

What do you see? 

Even in the dark there’re city lights, stars in the sky, a light in the living room, or a candle in a window. Just as you cannot have light without darkness, you cannot have darkness without light.   

So today, when the world is so full of beautiful lights, and you may feel like you’re in the dark, remember, this feeling is temporary. There’s always a new electric current, a new cord, a new light bulb, or a new match. There’s always someone beside you to light your unlit candle. And, if you’re that someone standing by, and your candle is glowing, look around. You might notice the person whose candle is waiting for a little flicker of hope to touch and ignite it. Be that spark! Be that light for someone else. Reach over and gently offer your candle. Remember, each one of us is are beings of light shining bright in the night.   

Navigating the dark is easier when you hold onto the light. At the end of the day, you’re your own best candle. Your light is always inside. Though life’s bushel basket may be weighing you down, it’ll never diminish your flame. You are the light of the world. Your flicker matters. If you are in doubt, hold your candle to another’s and watch for the magic. For in this special divine way, you’ll always change the way you see and you’ll change the way you live.