Before the Dawn
Even the darkest night ends with light’s victory. Light. Brilliant, dazzling light that burnt my soul to ashes, day after day until nothing was left.
Light that fights darkness and reveals every secret. There’s no hiding in shadows; that’s why I love the light. No one suspects someone like me lurking, yet here I am: resilient, persistent. The last crop is harvested, sucked dry, left behind. What lies before me as I fly through the night is a new crop: fresh, succulent, abundant. The lights are meant to scare off creatures like me. How ignorant humans are. It’s an invitation.
Gabi wrote a story about a predatory beast seeking out prey and seeing light and going after their victims for the weekly Friday Fictioneer’s ekphrastic 100-word prompt. After reading it, I commented to her:
“Chills up my spine at this one, Gabi. I guess it stands to reason that the brightest lights, once consumed, give the most energy.”
Gabi responded to me:
“Very true, and they often are the targets for being robbed of that energy. Thank you Lisa, I’m glad you liked.”
This story and the comment exchange sparked a kind of twisted realization for me that, at this point, is just an idea.
In the Bible, there are verses from Matthew 5:
…14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.…
What if the lights are to call in the darkness to drain? It really takes the Bible in a sinister direction, doesn’t it? Maybe we are better keeping our lights under the bushel baskets?
What are your thoughts?
(Thanks again, Gabi, for giving me permission to use your story for this post!)
Tao Talk 
That sure is a thought provoking question Li.
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I know! What are your thoughts on it?
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I feel that light attracts more light and not darkness. Judy like goodness attracts more goodness to it.
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Sadje, thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
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My pleasure dear friend
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Hi LIsa, I enjoyed this piece of writing. I love light and I think it should be shared with the world in all its glory. One of my art projects is Into the light which showcases wild life in the light of the morning or evening.
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Robbie, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. Your art project sounds cool.
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What an interesting question, Lisa, very thought-provoking. I think there is a lot behind the symbolism of light and darkness that probably goes back very far to humanitie’s earliest days. Dangerous things lurk in darkness, there are strange sounds, predators prowl, and humans can’t see very well. The darkest days are also the coldest, so fire and light come to the rescue. It’s easily imaginable how stories, myths and religions together with power structures formed about these things (I’m not an anthropologist!).
Also, seen universally, all light will eventually die. There’ll be darkness, nothingness… or so the theories go as far as I’m aware (I’m no astronomist either!).
Light feeds most of the life on earth we know. Life means order. Living structures fight entropy. And the final stage of entropy is that nothingness mentioned above.
So, let it be light, and shine, but be aware of the darkness and admire what it has to offer as well. That’s my way to look at it. :D
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Gabi, loving your addendum here and appreciating the time you took to share it :) <3
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And about that biblical quote: isn’t that in direct contradiction of the cardinal sin of pride? I’m not religious, but I think many things in the bible and other scriptures need to be seen in context, of the time, the politics, interpretations and translations.
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I can see that as a direct contradiction for sure. Pragmatically, my mom was against shining one’s light and even went so far as to extinguish it when she saw it. Gabi, I see the Bible as a book that can be used to control others via purposeful interpretation.
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Brianne Swimme (Cosmogenesis) talks about humanity being as sun, as solar flares, but in a positive way. I err to the positive in this case, I think the light is metaphysical :)
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Paul, thanks much for sharing Swimme’s view and your personal view on it and will ponder them.
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It depends, sometimes for your personal safety, you can’t let everyone see your light. You have to know your audience. Otherwise, you could end up something like Ned Stark. poor fool. Not that that was the best example that fits the scenario, but hopefully, you get my drift.
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Gia, thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. I tend to agree. For me, I am not always best at gauging my audience and have gotten some unpleasant surprises. Oh dear, yes, poor Ned. “That” scene tore me apart!
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I hear you about Ned. However, I found myself far too mad at him because of the level of naivete that should not have been present in a man that old.
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Some interesting thoughts here. There are a lot of symbolic associations with light and dark that make light good and dark bad. We put too much judgement on things that are not inherently value-based, they are just different. I agree with the idea that using light to show the world how wonderful you are, or how wonderful your God is for that matter, does not seem to fit with the idea that one should be humble not proud. And some things are best kept to yourself. Live your beliefs through your actions–if others find them worthy, they will follow. And that is a light that the demon cannot take away. (K)
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Kerfe, really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on it. “Live your beliefs through your actions” is solid advice and what follows makes sense.
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This post and the comments make a most enlightening and thought-provoking set. I’m also mindful of the contradictory aspect of the Bible passage in relation to pride, though I think another interpretation is as has been said about sharing one’s light (and good works) in service of others.
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Steve much appreciated hearing your thoughts on it. I agree the post and the comments have substance.
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This is such a fascinating exchange between you and Gabi. The dance of darkness and light is so prevalent in everything I write, consciously or subconsciously. To share one’s light freely with all, one must have a profound sense of self, or deep roots or an immovable center. Then that light may touch many and remain undimmed.
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Jude, thank you for sharing your thoughts on it. You are wise beyond your years.
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I have many wise friends 🙏🏾😉👆🏾
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:)
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