This is Deputy Digby Pancake. Girl Person likes to read a lot. She likes to think a lot. And she read me something yesterday. She said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” Now. Let me just say. I am not a reader. I am not a thinker. I am a doer. I do what makes me happy.
And what makes me happy includes hiking, eating, being with my family, not getting arrested by Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle, walks in the woods, an all you can eat pancake bar with pancake martinis made from maple syrup, because that is legal at my age…and lately, one more thing. Besides run on sentences. That time of day when the light hits the trees at just that time. At just that angle. At just that time of day. In this Florida place.
Now, this tree, and this light at this time of day is only here. And we have not been here at this park long.
But it doesn’t take long to make new friends in the woods with the trees and all the life there. It doesn’t take long to remember each tree by name, and to know the routines of the woods. Every place has its routines with it’s inhabitants. Every tree in that place, in the woods, or the forest.
I asked Girl Person what in the world the difference was between the woods and a forest. Girl Person, since she reads a lot, knew that the forest is bigger than the woods. There are more trees in it and a larger area. Kinda like when I have more pancakes in my belly, my butt is larger.
But she said that no matter what, the trees here don’t care about the name of where they are. They. Just. Are. They know they love it.
And even though it is dark most of the time, they look forward to that one time of day where no matter how many trees there are, a little light goes to them. They seem to each get a turn with the light on their time of day.
Persons seem to take for granted things like light and sunshiney. Persons seem to take for granted when the light shines down on their face.
They may wonder when the next rain is coming, or when there will be a storm. And they don’t enjoy that light. But I say, what if that rain or that storm comes? When the light and the sun comes out again, won’t it be glorious? You see, we all have to walk thru our own dark forests. But there will always be light again if we keep walking. It is part of the cycle.
So, look around and see a tree in your own yard. Notice that time of day that the light shines especially beautiful on it. And when you see that, remember the time when you felt the most beautiful. And strive for that. Keep walking.
What many of us don’t realize is that even when we are in darkness, life is growing. Lessons are being learned.
Take all the life that is in you, even in the forest, and look for the light. Combine them all and see what a better person you become. And when your special time of day comes, shine!
-Deputy Digby Pancake
The tree with sunset in the background would make a great watercolor. I think my nephew, who dabbles in watercolor, might just give that one a whirl! This is a great message — we all have to realize that our times of darkness are not permanent. Even in times of loss, once we are past the shock and grieving, we will have the memories of all the good times. My dad’s death was the result of a fall at home. He fell on a Friday and died of his injuries the following Tuesday. I was so devastated, and even today I don’t watch my favorite team (the Dallas Cowboys) play ball because that was “our time.” He hated the Cowboys, and I have been a fan for pretty much their whole period of existence from the 1960’s. If the opponent won, I had to go fix my dad some ice cream with pineapple. If the Cowboys won… I had to go fix my dad a consolation bowl of ice cream with pineapple. This was when I was 60! But at his memorial service, my son spoke of an incident that had occurred when my son was about 12. We had picked up my brother and his two children in Louisiana and driven to western Oklahoma where my parents lived at the time to spend Christmas with my parents. We had a great time, and even had a white Christmas for kids who never saw snow.. Late Christmas afternoon, the children were “too quiet.” My dad checked on them back in the den, and said to them, “What are you kids up to back there.” “Nothing, Granddaddy,” they replied. “Well, cut it out!” he said in his deep baritone! And at that moment, I knew our memories would be bittersweet, but we would be able to laugh and think about all the good times. The light would overtake the darkness.
Good morning guys. HOPE you guys have a blessed day. Let your light shine in the darkness. HOPE girl person is doing well today. I continue to pray for her and of course you guys too.