Those dark old days when nothing seems to be going right, when all of our relationships seem to be out of kilter, when just getting by would be a step up, it just seems like there is no light at the end of this long dark tunnel. We are in the dark and we can’t seem to figure out what we did wrong to have to go through all of this. We tend to look at our situations as being in the dark and we are hopefully heading for some light. It feels like the light is turned off and we need to get it turned back on so we can enjoy the life we know we are destined to lead.

When we are in dark situations our beliefs are tested. Our system of living, of well being, of survival is being tested and we are wondering if that system is going to carry us through the darkness. We find that it is much easier to say that we believe this and do that when everything seems to be going well, but in the darkness our system renders us as a sighted man in a dark cave.

We might get a bit panicky being in the dark like that. I don’t know if you have ever been in a cave, but it gets so dark that you can’t see your hand in front of you. The system we used in the light to get around doesn’t work quite as well in the dark cave. We can easily get lost in the dark, get confused, and lose our way. We don’t know if we are going deeper into the cave or walking towards an opening where there is light.

When we are in these situations we have to look for signs that lead us out, we have to use what’s left of our belief systems to guide us out, and we have to have faith that we are in a temporary situation and that we will get out. If we keep our heads and believe our situations are going to turn out all right, we will get out of that darkness. We will see the light of day again.

That light never turns off. It’s always on. We may see darkness but it’s only because we can’t perceive the light anymore. Our eyes are our sensors and they do not see light if they are closed, or blocked, or are turned away from the light. At night we can no longer see the sun’s light because there are obstacles between it and us. We know this situation is temporary, so we don’t worry whether the sun is never going to shine on us anymore. That sun doesn’t quit shining; we quit perceiving.

Knowing that that light never turns off, it shifts the responsibility of finding the light onto us. We are the perceivers. If we are in darkness it’s because we can’t see the light that is always turned on. We have the responsibility to turn around, or unblock the obstacles, or open our eyes. We can’t expect the sun to shine in our cave. We have to get out of the cave to see the sun.

Knowing that light never turns off gives us the faith that all darkness is temporary. Knowing that light never turns off gives us the faith that even if it gets dark again, the dark is still temporary. Knowing that light never turns off let’s us perceive that it is there whether we actually see it or not. The ability to perceive that which we can’t see is called faith.

Have faith that there is light as you sit there in your own dark situation. If you don’t believe me just turn around, or unblock your obstacles, or open your eyes.

It’s a very comforting thought to know that you are heading toward the light and not going deeper into the cave.