The only way to get out of darkness is to follow the light. Sometimes, it's just a very faint light. Often you have to be in the darkness long enough to refocus your eyes so that you can look for a glimmer of light to follow out of the darkness.
Darkness is never enjoyable. Often it's a long valley that seems inescapable. There are different forms of darkness such as poverty, failing health, family difficulties, work dissatisfaction, discord in your relationships, failures of all kinds and the list goes on. You may have been there or you may be there now. You may not see any way out.
I read this a long time ago and claim it every day in different ways: “Walk in the light while you have the light before darkness overtakes you.” Throughout life, I've learned if I walked in the light that I had then I usually would receive more light.
When I was a kid, we had a light bulb in the ceiling of most every room. There would be a long string attached to the little silver chain that would pull the switch and turn on the light. Throughout my childhood, I often would go into a dark bedroom at night and search for that dangling string. Finding that string was a relief because it turned on the light.
Often, we look for the dangling string for a long time to turn on the light. Sometimes we eventually find it and sometimes people never do. Some people live in desperation of trying to find the dangling string while others simply gave up a long time ago.
There is something to this old saying that is true: "Let us not grow weary in doing good. We will reap a harvest if we don't quit." Another truth that I have heard is, "Believe in the light while you have the light so that you may become children of light."
I don't know what you are dealing with today, but don't quit. It's easier said than done, I know.
However, maybe, if you hang in there and keep your head up and your hand stretching out in front of you, then just maybe, you will feel the string dangling in the darkness.
Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Finding the string dangling in the darkness