Light of Darkness

I recently learned one of the most valuable lessons I have ever been taught in the depths of the woods surrounding the home where I spent my childhood. I have learned to have faith even in the darkest times, no matter how large the shroud of evil. As a steady stream brings forth new waters each daybreak, a change has taken place in my beliefs with the visit of a certain picturesque meadow deep in the heart of the woods.

Leaves crunched under my feet as I gingerly picked my way through the wild and tangled underbrush. The crisp autumn air already smelt of the coming winter and cleansed my soul with fresh aromas, distantly familiar. The woods reverberated with the sweet melodies of song birds in the treetops. Squirrels and chipmunks scampered in every direction as they gathered nuts and berries for the long frost ahead. The mid-morning light grew faint as I ventured toward my destination, deeper and deeper into the valley. The towering pines formed a canopy above, blocking out much of the daylight and as the soft glow faded, so did the distant chattering of the small wildlife. Not a leaf stirred and the ground grew soft where the moisture had not been allowed to escape. I was tempted to turn back out of fear; yet, some unknown will of my past was struggling to the surface. I followed my instincts and kept going. On and on I crept through masses of wild blackberries and thorny weeds. I had a vague memory of my destination: a breath-taking meadow I had visited only once before. After a half an hour of hiking and nearly giving up hope, I finally stumbled upon the over grown yellow meadow I had come so far to find. Unchanged and exactly the way I remembered, the vast meadow stretched out before me, dazzlingly bright and overwhelming. An unnaturally blue stream still flowed through the middle and the trees still swayed in the wind. The tall, willowy grass still resembled the waves of the ocean. The meadow was still a place of serenity, welcome, and belonging.

I had returned to the meadow for no particular reason; however, the steady stream and wavering grasses held a sort of wonder for me, as the place had me realizing how much I’ve I have changed since my last visit four years ago. Before my previous visit, I had not a care in the world. I loved life and appreciated all the little details life offered. As I progressed through high school, I began to experience the cruelty of many of my peers. Backstabbing each other and picking on the less fortunate and weak, the malice of some individuals infuriated me. More and more brutality and drama led me to eventually believe nothing remained of morality and kindness among my peers and mankind in general. Personal experiences only convinced me of corruptness further and I shut myself out to everyone save a select few. I remained a shadow throughout high school and never drew attention to myself. I was completely and utterly convinced of the cruelty of mankind. Much like the gray, forbidding shadows of the woods surrounding the meadow, I distrusted the unpredictable and terrible ways of my peers. If not for my small group of true friends, I would have been a complete outcast in high school.

The very same friends are highly comparable to the meadow in the depths of the woods. After visiting the meadow for only the second time, I have realized beauty and happiness never die or cease to exist; they merely must be found by chance. Much like the sunlight glinting off the waters of the stream, my friends have been rays of hope for me in the past few years. Though I took a long time to believe, my viewpoints have changed yet again. I no longer believe darkness and cruelty rule mankind. To a certain extent, maybe, yet a warm, sunlit meadow waits behind every wall of cold darkness. The waters of the beautiful stream continue to purge the surrounding evil with kindness.

Though the same stream runs in the same bed and flows through the same meadow, the water is constantly changing. A new day brings new beginnings and different waters from the day before. The visit to the meadow has saved my faith in the fickle being called man and I will never lose my way again.