The Eternal Light

At night the farm is a dark place.  No artificial light shines.  No line of streetlights.  No security lights on poles.  About a half mile away can be seen a light on the side of the nearest neighbor's house, but then, only during the season of the fallen foliage. Otherwise, it is natural light.  Natural light is the light that comes from the stars, but mostly from the moon.  Without the moon it is truly dark, but in most moments there is something special about the deep darkness.    

Interestingly enough, once the eyes get accustomed to the absence of light, things which seemed invisible move into the realm of the discernible.  What is discerned may not be seen clearly, but there are things to see even when the darkness seems to be overcoming.  Maybe there is always light even when the light cannot be seen.  "The light shines in darkness. and the darkness did not overcome it."  (John 1:5)  Later John, the Apostle and writer of the gospel which bears his name will speak of the Light of the World.  It is this Light, this Eternal Light, which always shines in the darkness.    

What we know is that there is a darkness which is even deeper than the darkness of the farm without artificial lights.  It is the darkness which settles over the soul in an unrelenting way.  It is the darkness which seems bent on destroying all that is good within us.  It is a darkness into which we all walk from time to time.  In the midst of it, we can be still for a moment and we will surely know that the Light which cannot be overcome or extinguished is out there shining to light up the way.