Monday, October 6, 2008

when all other lights go out


Then, as he stood, darkness about him and a blackness of despair and anger in his heart, it seemed to him that he saw a light: a light in his mind, almost unbearably bright at first, as a sun-ray to the eyes of one long hidden in a windowless pit. Then the light became colour: green, gold, silver, white.

Far off, as in a little picture drawn by elven-fingers, he saw the Lady Galadriel standing on the grass in Lórien, and gifts were in her hands.
And you, Ring-bearer, he heard her say, remote but clear, for you I have prepared this.

"Master, master!" cried Sam, and life and urgency came back into his voice. "The Lady’s gift! The star-glass!"

"The star-glass?" muttered Frodo, as one answering out of sleep, hardly comprehending. "Why yes! Why had I forgotten it?
A light when all other lights go out! And now indeed light alone can help us."
* * * * *
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ~ John 8:12


It was dark. It was the middle of the night. As occasionally happens, I was awakened to a half-consciousness by things that had been on my mind. They floated in and out of my awareness while I half-prayed, half-slept, or half-tried-to-sleep. I was worrying about people I love so much it hurts. It's hard to know whether or not things become more clear in this semi-dreamlike state, or if they become more muddled and exaggerated. Tossing and turning, I leaned over to check the time. Early morning. Not too much more time for sleep but some, if only I could manage it.

And then these two passages came to my mind, and though, as with Frodo, there is still a difficult road ahead, they offered hope, and I finally fell asleep.

2 comments:

  1. Well put. I too am worried for some people. With the news that 1100 people in our already small community are being laid off from the only real viable source of employment around here, I am worried. For my neighbors, our town, our future. My neighbor around the corner who works for a different company also lost his job last week. And in times like this, I am grateful that my husband has a job, imperfect as it is, I am grateful. So for now, we're not moving or looking for a transfer - because it would be impossible to sell our house.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I loved the thought.
    I loved Sam's child-like remembrance
    I love that it's true

    ReplyDelete