A Word about Light
I have never written an article in which I have quoted Plato and Three Dog Night, but here goes:
Plato has said, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Similarly, Three Dog Night, in 1970, recorded the rock ‘n roll classic, “Mama Told Me Not to Come.” The narrator found himself at a party in which there was some really “crazy” stuff going on. The punch line is, “Don’t turn on the lights, ’cause I don’t wanna see!”
(For those of you old enough for a trip down memory lane or those who are too young to know what you have missed, click on the image above and enjoy!)
What a wonderful metaphor: Light!
It’s been used in writings and teachings for thousands of years. It carries with it an endless number of meanings, most of which are positive and forward-looking:
- Learning and Enlightenment
- Awareness and Understanding
- New Beginnings and Fresh Starts
- Overcoming Darkness and Ignorance
- Growth and Healing
- Optimism and Progress
- Confidence and Courage
The list goes on and on!
One of the most important meanings is, with light, we often have a choice.
- Light is the brightness that allows me to see things.
The choice–do I want to see?
- To shed light on, throw light on or cast light on something means to make it easier to understand, because more information is known about it.
The choice–do I want to understand?
- Light enables me to see a pathway that may not have previously been visible.
The choice–do I want to pursue that pathway now that I can see it? Do I want to change the direction of my life?
Light provides us with an unlimited number of opportunities and challenges. It helps us see ourselves for who we really are, for what we really can be in life and provides us with choices and ways to change the direction of our lives.
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