Writing is an Itch. This is a place to scratch.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

The Light Shines in the Darkness

By Rattus Scribus©

My wife Anita from Castles Crowns and Cottages just posted an inspirational topic very relevant to me. For I am the type of personality that needs to be reminded often about the beauty and goodness in the world.

Ever since I was a child the harsh things of our world have tended to accost my attention and cost me no small amount of emotional labor.

The first time I saw Woody Allen's Annie Hall, I had to laugh at the young neurotic Alvy Singer (Allen), so distraught over everything, even the universe coming to an end billions of years in future.

(Pause the song on the playlist, see the 46 sec video clip here then return to reading)1

In a way, I actually envied Alvy. For I was a child who was forced to live inside his head, because unlike Alvy whose family took him to counseling, I had no such outlet. And so the darkness at times seemed to overwhelm.

Street violence that's senseless as usual, industrial violence on the earth that's business as usual, profit at the expense of people, tragic -isms, hell unleashed in the name of heaven, cruel words and acts that injure the innocent, graves filled with the wrongfully dead, oceans of tears, woes seemingly without limit.

But over the years I have seen the light in the darkness too, and in the words of the apostle: "the darkness has not overcome it."

I remember when Anita and I were first dating. One day we took a trip to a beach in Southern California. The sun was beginning to set over the water, and we walked hand in hand with the water dancing about our bare feet.

Then, dunderhead that I was, I looked out over the sea and told my soon-to-be wife this: "Can you believe all the pollution we've created? Isn't it sad?" We talked about this episode later: how while she was lost in the love the moment and was therefore more able to see the beauty in our surroundings, I threw a wet blanket on the whole thing with my, "sad state of the world" spiel.

Anita tells me often that I have inspired her in so many ways. Well, she has been my strongest reminder to see the sun through every gloomy cloud.

The magic in the deep forest.

The rainbow after the rain.

The arts that inspire us in ways we never previously imagined and show us what is possible that is good and kind and beautiful, full of hope and love unconquerable.

Yes, I do believe it.


"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5

-----------------
1. Picture still from "Annie Hall," 1977, Dir. Woody Allen.
2. All other pictures found via "public domain" search strings
.

6 comments:

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Dear Ruben
I know when I come to visit I will always find food for thought. I can relate to the little boy and your feelings as a child.. Over the years, with God's help, I have learned to take each moment as a blessing.. There is so much beauty in this world, it seems a shame to use what precious time we have on the unplesant. This is truly a beautiful post. It warms my heart that you speak your feelings about Anita. There are many people who cannot express them aloud, and with such eloquence. I admire you for that. You and Anita are a match made in heaven.
Thank you for the touching post.
I am honored to call you my friend.
Warmest regards,
Penny

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

My dearest....you know that your words make me weep, especially when they are about ME...HEEEEEE!!!!! (Tell me more about my eyes)

I agree with our dear friend Penny above; from day one, I knew that heaven had heard my prayer when I saw you.

Much love and admiration to a great man, Moi

The Dutchess said...

KEEP BELIEVING dear Rattus...and I must say you remind me of someone..My husband..haha...Thank you for this beautiful post old chap..I admire you for putting these words to paper..

Big hug from all of us..T D and Company

Bunnym said...

I was the same kind of person...glass half empty sort, but as I get older, magically I have done an 180..glass half full turnabout.

I do believe because it's true~

bunny

Bonnie said...

Oh Ruben, when I was but a little shaver I was much like you and Alvy Singer, I was a world class worrier. All it would take would be one word or maybe a picture and it would change everything. It's part of my nature so I come by it naturally.

There is a lot of injustice in the world and bad things happen every day BUT I do try to live my life on the sunnyside and believe that things can change and the human race is capable of a good many things like kindness towards one another.

I love this quote by Emily Dickinson: Dwell in possibility.

Love to you and Anita, Bonnie

Marie said...

Ruben, Thank you so much for honoring and loving my dear cousin. I feel blessed knowing how truly loved she is.

Elizabeth