Gratitude for Darkness…
For me, nothing stimulates my yearning for light more than prolonged periods of darkness. Whether it is the darkness from the shortened days of winter, or periods of emotional and spiritual darkness, these are times when I find myself intentionally seeking “Light”!
Recently, when I was reflecting on my aversion to darkness,
the following questions popped into my mind:
Why is there Darkness?
and
What benefit does Darkness offer to the world?
For answers, my mind turned towards the Plant Kingdom. I started to ponder the idea that the majority of seeds germinate most effectively in a darkened environment. Knowing that the plant world is vital to our planet’s ecosystem, and necessary for the entire food chain, I was beginning to find reasons to appreciate Darkness! My thoughts led me to reflect on my own darkened times. I reflected on those phases of my life when my mind seemed trapped into thinking about what was wrong in my world, rather than focusing on all the miracles of life that were happening all around me. I thought about how my limited perception and lack of patience, blocked me from seeing the new dreams and visions that were germinating in what I perceived to be darkened conditions. And finally, I thought about the wonderful changes that eventually sprung from my seeds of discontent. I once heard that we should train our minds to find gratitude in everything, and for me, finding Gratitude for Darkness was always a challenge. If so many of the plants that are vital to our very existence sprout better in darkness, so can my visions of a better world.
With this change in understanding and perspective, I can now appreciate the vital role that Darkness plays in germinating the seeds of new life and new ideas;
and finally I have found my Gratitude for Darkness!