Into The Darkness
by Rachelle Rea
I made a startling discovery while washing dishes this evening. And I never would have discovered it had it not been evening. The dancing darkness outside the window pulled me in, inviting me to plunge into nothingness and numbness and the shivery night. My fingers slowed on their sudsy trek through the dishwater and I focused, truly focused, on the window and my view of the outside world.
There wasn’t much of a view. I acknowledged the darkness, accepted it, shook hands and made an agreement with it in my mind that I would stay on this side of the window, the safe side, and that the darkness would stay out there. Where is “out there” exactly? And who ever speaks those words without venturing into them?
My view of the outside world was skewed because the brightness of the inside reflected on the glass. Yes, there was darkness, but that is all that I saw. I couldn’t see the way the squirrels slept in the trees. I couldn’t see the way the moon hung over the wooden fence. I couldn’t even see the stars shining in the blanket of sky like twinkling smiles. All I knew was there is darkness. So I scrubbed and sudsed and slugged through the washing, talking to the newsman on the television, giggling at the soap bubbles I created, humming a tune from a Disney movie under my breath.
Then I made a startling discovery: There I stood, literally lost in my own little world. Lost. Oblivious to all the bright shining world waiting to be discovered, explored, touched and tasted. I dismissed the darkness, finished the dishes, and climbed the stairs to thread thoughts together into words (is there any other way for me to comprehend but to wordcraft, I ask you, self?).
The light of my happy little world, tucked safe behind the window glass, had blinded me to the very thing that maybe held the most wonder, the most of Him. I’ll never know unless I slip out the porch door and dare to take a look beyond my own imaginings. Will I dare? Will I dare to step out into the darkness beyond my backyard, my sleepy Southern town, my own rose-colored glasses of what the world really is? Will I have the courage to take that ticket to another world—a world that may seem darker, but, in reality, may introduce me anew to the Light of all the World?
Am I ready for that—to have my assumptions shattered, my stereotypes sunk to the floor beneath my feet? An even better question: Am I willing for that? Am I willing to be like Mary and say, “Let it be done to me as you have said,” for she knew Whose plan it was? Am I willing to jump into the den like Daniel, for he knew Who would close the mouths of the lions leaping? Am I willing to say “Yes, Lord” like that great chorus and crowd of saints who have gone before?
Am I willing? Am I daring? Am I ready? Am I aware of the truth that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, not just in my bright bubble, but in this dark, dark world?
And am I ready to be that light, as well?
Rachelle Rea is a homeschool grad, college girl, and dreamer who blogs at www.rachellerea.com.
Hermoso! Yo también quisiera escribir así 🙂 Bendiciones desde Perú!!
beautiful.
🙂
The key is really knowing if it’s God’s plan for us to do those things… is He really calling us to “jump” or is it our hearts leading us on? I think going beyond our comfort zone is a good thing; God has had me do that a number of times this year! But we should be certain God wants us to do those things too. And I think perhaps that He is calling our family to move beyond what we have known for many years… we’ll see what’s around the bend 🙂
Remember, “God is not as concerned with the fulfillment of dreams as He is with the transformation of hearts” Natasha Metzler
You weaved words together to form a picture that not many of us comprehend, including me, at one time. Yes, we are called to be lights in the darkness, shining and if so, we must at times, reach beyond our happy little worlds.
This part grabbed me:
Am I ready for that—to have my assumptions shattered, my stereotypes sunk to the floor beneath my feet? An even better question: Am I willing for that? Am I willing to be like Mary and say, “Let it be done to me as you have said,” for she knew Whose plan it was? Am I willing to jump into the den like Daniel, for he knew Who would close the mouths of the lions leaping? Am I willing to say “Yes, Lord” like that great chorus and crowd of saints who have gone before?
Jaclynn (love the way you spell your name), “happy little worlds” describes it perfectly. Reaching beyond, that almost painful process!
Thank you for commenting! 🙂
Another challenging and amazing post Rachelle! I must say you are a master wordcrafter my dear! 😀 *Hugs* I could see you there in the kitchen and looking out the window just as if I was right there with you looking out into the darkness.
I believe the Lord is beginning to lead me and our family to new places and you know me…I’m not one for taking those “LEAPS” of faith. Steps, yes. Leaps…not so much, thank you very much. 😉 Lol. So I thank and appreciate your challenge to say “Yes” to the Lord and to shine my little light in dark places. 🙂
Love you my sister in Christ!
~Rachel~
{YLCF, thank you for your ministry, it’s lovely to “partner” with other young women in sharing Christ’s love. Keep up the excellent work!} 🙂
Rachel. You are such a beautiful blessing. I love it when you leave nice long comments like this one. 🙂
I hope I always remember the night I composed this piece as clearly as I do now. It was right before I was set to go off to Costa Rica, you see, so darkness and light and the differences betwixt the two were quite poignant and close.
I’m praying for you and your family as you take baby steps and big giant leaps…be daring! 😉
{Yes, isn’t YLCF just amazing? The team has been encouraging me for so many years…and now some of my pieces are published here! Floods my heart with humbling awe!}
Beautiful post Rachelle!!
Thank you, RJ!