Embracing Darkness and Light
Gray wool skies. Sleet. Wind. A few shriveled leaves clinging sadly to craggy branches. Misunderstandings. Looming deadlines. Absences. An unexpected call late in the day. Both of these lists are things that can be considered the “cold and dark” of life. These are things that can make us feel depressed, oppressed, sad or even angry. Week 11 of Dear Teachers starts with this quote from Francis Bacon: “In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” Take a look at Marlene’s photo. It’s a prime example of this. The sun creates gorgeous shadows. The shadows give the light its richness. Deepest dark defines both the foreground and the horizon, alternating with warm sky and its reflection. The water’s calm depth is what allows the light to sparkle on its surface through the shimmering cattail shadows. It’s been a year since I began the journey of writing Dear Teachers. It was a dark time for me mentally and physically but the writing process wa...