The Cave

The world I was born into is a cave full of darkness with no source of light visible deep within the cave. There is a light, however, filtering into the cave somewhere high above the depths of our dwellings, and there are those walking around in the darkness of the cave who have once been in the presence of that light. Their past exposure to the light is evidenced by the faint glow coming from their clothes. When asked how they found the light, they say they were called to the light. They say that the light hurt when they first saw it, but it was warm and glorious. If ever three, four or more of them stand together one starts to understand the pain that comes from exposure to the light. The pain is somehow pleasant, though, if endured for long enough.

They say they came back into the cave on a mission, but so many of them have been back in the cave for so long now that the glow from their clothes is almost gone. I know some of them from before they were called to what they describe as a “marvelous light” and they are still the same as they were before, apart from the glow. Every day they spend here in the cave they become more and more like they were before they encountered the light. A few, though, have returned to the source of the light on an almost daily basis, every time returning to the cave brighter than they were before. They can often be seen leading others from the cave to encounter the light.

I have heard that some of the people that have seen the light have established colonies closer to the mouth of the cave. They never return to this part of the cave.

Most of us are happy in the cave. We have grown accustomed to the darkness. In fact, I would say that it is really not dark at all. Those who have been called to the “marvelous light” say the cave actually seems darker to them when they return. If they stay here in the darkness long enough, though, they too agree that it really doesn’t seem that dark.

It seems unnatural to go to the light. Those who return to the light regularly tell me that what is unnatural is living in darkness. They are such a minority that very few listen to them though. The fact that the majority of those who have encountered the light come back to the darkness and stay here until they are exactly the way they were before shows me that darkness is where and who we are supposed to be. I do not believe the pain required to stand in the light is worth it if we all just return to the darkness.

I do fear the darkness at times. The darkness is so unrelenting that I find myself craving some light…even just a little light. And sometimes I feel lost, like I’m missing out on who I am really supposed to be. But most of the time I’m comfortable here, and that is what is most important. At least, it seems to be.