The Flashlight

I was out in the wilderness, alone. It was night and it was very dark. I was not afraid, however, because I had a flashlight.

My flashlight had a straight and narrow beam. It wouldn't light up everything around me all at once, but if I pointed it at something specific, the light was bright enough to see what I wanted to look at.

Later that night, I heard strange noises. I didn't know what was out there, beyond the range of my flashlight. At times, I became frightened. At those times, I would console myself by looking straight into the beam of light. It was hard to see anything else besides the bulb, but that was enough to protect and comfort me when I was feeling lonely or scared.

After a time, I discovered that if all I did was look into the beam of the flashlight, I couldn't see anything else. Then I discovered that if I closed my eyes, or looked away from the flashlight, after a while, my regular vision would come back.

Suddenly, I had a revolutionary idea. What would happen if I turned off my flashlight? Would I become blind? Would my eyes adjust to the darkness? Would an unknown danger leap at me from the darkness? In a moment of excitement coupled with fear, I decided to turn off the flashlight.

A few minutes later, I heard a noise, and was scared. I didn't know what caused it. My eyes still saw nothing but the black darkness. Should I turn on my flashlight? I was scared. I felt more alone than when I had the flashlight turned on.

I decided to wait in the darkness a while longer.

Gradually, I began to be able to make out large shapes in the distance. They were still dark, indistinct blobs, but I could see they were trees. After a few more minutes, I could make out the side of a mountain not too far away. Soon, I could see small rocks and twigs on the ground. I looked up into the dark sky, but it wasn't dark anymore! I saw a sea of stars, too many to count. Instead of black, the night sky looked radiant and glowing.

I looked around, and discovered that I could see more of the world, and appreciate it better, without my flashlight turned on. I was no longer afraid of the dark.

I still loved my time with the flashlight. It gave me peace and comfort when I felt lonely and scared. It showed me the way I thought I should go. It made me feel important and powerful. I could aim my illumination upon any subject I desired. But, without the flashlight, I felt more connected to the fabulous, unexplored world around me. I could actually see more without the flashlight turned on, than I could with it. I was not afraid of the world around me anymore. I could see subtle distinctions in things around me which were lost in the bright beam of light from the flashlight, which would make whatever I was examining seem very white, but turn everything else around me into black. I was glad at the time that I had my flashlight, but I later discovered that it really didn't help me any better than looking at things with my own, adjusted eyesight, and at times made it harder to see the larger picture.

I was no longer afraid, and it didn't matter if I had a flashlight or not.

Comments

[from the ashes]

Beautiful, domokun. I like it.

[Dave]

As I sat there proud of my discovery, happy and free from my artificial light, being able to see more wonders and beauties in the night, I continued on my way and it dawned on me that the reason I could see in the dark was because of the light reflecting off the moon originally sourced from the sun. It sunk deep into my soul and I felt a sense of humility. I did not have any choice that my body amazingly adjusted to the lower levels of light by small muscles changing the diameter of my iris, it was a gift. My little flashlight, the greatest achievement in human innovation was comparatively pathetic to this currently unseen light source. it was a gift. I finally recognized that I originally misunderstood the entire methodologies and meanings relating to maneuvering through the dark. I had supposed that I had the power to choose a brand of flashlight, I had the power to turn it on and off, and decide where I go, it was all about me.

I continued on my journey pondering, with gratitude, still enjoying my walks lit by the reflection of light sourced from the sun, I noticed the small bits of light that dotted the sky started to disappear. I looked to the east and saw mesmerizing beautiful colors in the sky, the darkness around me started to fade, I heard the forest around around me coming alive, then there was a moment that caused me to squint as this brilliant ball of light broke out from beneath the horizon. I could feel its warmth, my eyes adjusted again, I no longer had to squint and I could see all around me: color, hues, fine details; it was more beautiful and wondrous than I could ever have imagined. I looked at my measly little flashlight and thought how foolish I had been, I had completely misunderstood the way to harness light to light my way. With the added light I saw other people in the distance, they enjoyed being outside in the light as well, I went to them and we enjoyed our time together exploring the beautiful world around us- all grateful that we had been given such a wonderful gift, all realizing that the true light came from the sun. Now I could understand everything in its proper context, sure the world is a large place and it will take me a lifetime to go around and explore, but now I had faith that I could find answers and that my current lack of knowledge could all be illuminated in due time if I continued to rely on the sun.

[Sister Mary Lisa]

Domo ~ I love it when you get creative and poetic like this. Very well done. I relate to your feelings a lot.

Dave ~ You have beautiful thoughts as well. I still can't help considering all those people in the world whose sun is completely different than yours, yet they find their answers and have complete faith in their sun to illuminate their path as well. They continue to rely on their sun as much as others do their diverse suns, and the warmth, joy, and peace they achieve from their respective suns are identical to yours. :)

[-Domokun-]

Dave, yes that is a good continuation of the metaphor. Isn't it amazing that the entire earth, for billions of years, has relied upon nothing more than hydrogen and helium, two of the simplest elements in nature, when combined and divided in the exact manner they do, to start the wonderful process of life on this planet? It's amazing to think that a nuclear furnace in the void of space could provide the energy that set into motion the long processes that have culminated (at least thus far) in sentient human life on this planet as we know it? How cool is it that two of the simplest elements could produce such wonder, beauty, and variety of life and knowledge as we understand it? It's especially heartening to me to see more and more of humanity awake from the myths and superstitions that have burdened our minds and culture for the last couple of hundred thousand years. It truly is a great time to be alive.

[JV]

I think Dave is talking about the light that the sun borrows from Kolob, rather than nuclear fusion.

(See Figure 5: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/abr/fac_2 )

-JV

[Dave]

People can take what they want from it but don't get in the trap of jumping between parable and literalism. It makes just as much sense as woman literally being created out of a rib or Satan slithering around as a snake. I also would propose that trying to tie 'the sun' to one specific worldview, even my own or whatever you perceive to be my own, is also short-sighted.

[Sister Mary Lisa]

I took Dave's "sun" to be God and God's plan for us and his all-knowing guidance in our lives. But just as you believe that about your God, Dave, so do millions of others believe similarly of their gods, with just the same benefit and comfort of "knowing" where they are headed in this life and the next, according to their particular religions.

[John C.]

That is beautiful, Domo. But seeing in the dark is always limited, no? Unless you are a vampire.

[Jordan F.]

Well, as long as I am back commenting I might as well leave a remark here too, as well.

Domo- it is painfully obvious that you have simply forgotten to recharge the "batteries" and replace the "bulb" on your Holy Ghost flashlight. Didn't you ever hear any of those baptism talks?

[-Domokun-]

Jordan, the problem was not that the "batteries" were low, or that the "bulb" was dim. In fact, quite the opposite. The artificial light of the flashlight temporarily blinded me with it's brilliant, but focused, narrow beam. It's only when I stopped relying on it that I could begin to truly see.

[John C.]

In the dark, Domo. In the dark

[-Domokun-]

John C., it's OK if you're in the dark. Just take your time, and your eyes will adjust.

[John C.]

Domo, can one see clearer in the dark or in the light?

[-Domokun-]

John C., I think that after allowing yourself to adjust to the surroundings, you can see more things in the world, in general, using natural ambient light, than depending upon the very localised artificial light of a flashlight, assuming otherwise normal night time conditions.

[Jordan F.]

So ditch the flashlight analogy. I always thought it was kind of dumb anyway. The Holy Ghost is like night vision goggles...

No worries, Domo. We're just needling you a bit...

[-Domokun-]

The Holy Ghost is night vision goggles? I guess it makes sense, because with night vision goggles you can only see things in one color, and your field of vision is even more narrowly focused. Yeah, OK, I'll allow that addition.

[JV]

lol. Yeah, Cap'n Crunch night vision goggles.

-JV

[Sister Mary Lisa]

Night vision goggles are better than X-ray vision goggles. Oh my.