Would You Like To See In The Dark?

Author: Bob Perks

"She can see in the darkness," the woman said to me.  I had never heard it put that way before.

I never really wanted to grow up.  Oh, I wanted to be able to do grown up things, but I never wanted to think like one or act like one.  I believe in many ways I have accomplished some of that dream.  I still think like a child and my wife will attest to me acting like one.

I like watching children on their own.  I don't mean when they are with other children playing.  But a child alone creates a little world to be in at that moment.  

We think nothing of seeing a child in the middle of a mall twirling around, dancing and perhaps even talking to herself.  But the site of an adult doing the same may even frighten us.  

Why?  Because it's not "adult-like."

So for a few minutes the other day I lived through a child at play.  My heart spun around a few times and I even caught myself giggling.  I wanted to be in that world of hers.  I needed to remove myself from this "reality" and just be somewhere else for at least a few moments.  

If you know me at all by now you know that would have easily joined in without hesitation.  I've danced with the wind and tip-toed with the squirrels.  But this might have been deemed improper by the other adults nearby.

I discovered the woman seated next to me was her Mom.  

"She is so full of life!" she said to me.

"Oh, to have that spirit and carefree attitude right now would be a blessing," I replied.  "Is she always that happy?"

"She can see in the darkness," the woman said to me.  I had never heard it put that way before.

It was a powerful thought.  Thoughts like that grab me and spin me around.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"Well, even when she was very small she never had a fear of the dark.  Her bright face and spirit always seems to find the best in every situation.  Even on the darkest days she lights up the world," her Mom said.  "She told me once that darkness means there's no light outside, but she had God's light inside."

We sat watching her contently.

"When her grand mom passed away we feared that the impact of the loss would change her, but it didn't.  She said she believed in God.  If Grand was with Him she had nothing to be afraid of."

"So she can see in the darkness.  That's an awesome thought.  But of course that's what faith is," I said.

Yes, I want to be like a child again.  You see, adulthood and all of it's reasoning and realistic view of the world often dulls, darkens or dims the light of the child within each of us.  But a strong, positive active faith is the light that cannot be dimmed.

Faith is to see in the darkness. 

Taken from "I believe in you!" By Bob Perks [copyright]

”Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 18:4