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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Light and Dark (05/21/09)
I tiptoed across the dimly lit room, trying not to wake him. He had already gone to bed after a long shift at work. Opening the bathroom door, I squeezed in, being sure not to flip the switch until door was safely closed. Click. It latched shut. I reach for the switch but, “ouch,” I poke my finger on the sharp edge of the medicine cabinet mirror.

Where is that switch? I have flipped it hundreds of times. I pause for a moment. Just today our anatomy teacher had discussed what amazing organs our eyes were. Nature designed them with pupils which dilated to gather all the ambient light in the darkest setting. Well, here I was. In the pitch black. What good were those amazing eyes? I squinted, straining against the inky blackness. But there was no seeing anything in front of me.

Suddenly, involuntarily, I did what nature didn’t recommend. I closed my eyes. This seemed calming. Convincing. Reassuring. Now what I saw was a blackness I expected. Dark that shouldn’t be penetrated. My eyes were satisfied to be incompetent. And, gingerly at first, and then with confidence, my fingers traced the familiar wall. The outline of the mirror a guiding presence. There it was. My search was rewarded by the raised switch. Comfortably, almost reluctantly, I pushed it upward.

Light flooded the room. I squeezed my eyes shut against the insult. Pain turned my head away from the intruder. Covering my eyes with my hand to soften the rays, I cautiously tested them. Slowly, those amazing pupils constricted to allow light to enter and make its way. I could see. I could brush my teeth.

But I wondered, as I brushed, about the moment of darkness. How odd, when our eyes fail, that we should choose to shut down our visual sense and instead rely on inner sight. It seemed almost that the darkness was blinding. It was confusing, disorienting. As long as I counted on my own eyes, the eyes of sensation, I remained blind. But, closing them, I automatically trusted an inner sense. This one, honed over time, was not confused in the dark. It was peaceful, capable, sure. Almost as if it was waiting for me to call on it.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Joanne Sher 
05/28/09
What a great lesson, engagingly shared. This one definitely hit a chord with me.
Myrna Noyes
06/01/09
Very interesting, thought-provoking, well-written piece with a "devotional" quality to it.

I could really relate to your setting! I often tiptoe through our bedroom to the bathroom in the dark so I won't waken my husband, who goes to bed earlier than I do. I close the bathroom door before I turn on the light to brush my teeth! :)

I really liked this paragraph:

"Suddenly, involuntarily, I did what nature didn’t recommend. I closed my eyes. This seemed calming. Convincing. Reassuring. Now what I saw was a blackness I expected. Dark that shouldn’t be penetrated. My eyes were satisfied to be incompetent. And, gingerly at first, and then with confidence, my fingers traced the familiar wall. The outline of the mirror a guiding presence. There it was. My search was rewarded by the raised switch. "

Nice job! :)

Jan Ackerson
06/02/09
Love the idea of closing your eyes in the dark!

Be careful with your tenses--you switched from past to present and back again a few times.

This is a very pleasant and meaningful devotional.
diana kay
06/03/09
good one!
Deborah Porter 
06/06/09
Wendy, congratulations on your 3rd place win in Level 1 this week. Time to move up to Level 2. :-) Well done!

Hope to see you at the FaithWriters' Conference in August. It’s going to be an amazing time of inspiration, information and encouragement.
http://www.faithwriters.com/conference.php

With love, Deb (Challenge Coordinator)