Track of Light
March 22, 2010 by Janice Hunter
Filed under Kitchen Table Space
“I will not wish thee riches, nor the glow of greatness, but that wherever thou go some weary heart shall gladden at thy smile, or shadowed life know sunshine for awhile. And so thy path shall be a track of light, like angels’ footsteps passing through the night.”
~ Blessing from a church wall in Upwaltham, England
The road to our nearest big town winds through hills and valleys. As I drove my daughter to a class today, I felt we’d entered an enchanted fairyland of frosted branches, hedgerows and fields. Morning mist lingered in the hollows, unwarmed by the winter sun, low and dazzling in a pearly sky. Only the brightest red berries and the occasional flash of a red STOP sign stood out against the muted shades of pale green and silvery greys.
As we reached the town and drove through the suburbs, the roads were treacherous with black ice. The heater—on full—made it harder than usual to tune into the engine noise. My fingers and toes, frozen even in gloves and hiking boots, felt less connected than usual to the steering wheel and pedals.
I focused, senses alert and concentrating, until we arrived outside the community centre where the class was due to take place. I parked with relief, switched off the engine, wrapped myself up in a fleecy, plaid travel blanket and waited for my daughter’s class to finish.
As I sat, watching the cars go by, I was struck by something strange and worrying. Because it was sunny and eerily bright for winter, no-one had their headlights on. Yet every car that passed seemed to blend like a silvery wraith into the frosted monochrome of pearly skies and glistening concrete.
Driving home, along a busy section of dual-carriageway, I saw folk driving one-handed, shading their eyes from the glare, but once again, I saw very few cars with their headlights on. I saw bumper-to-bumper near-misses, and with every animal instinct in my body alert and aware, I kept the lights on full, the heater off and my bare hands fixed firmly on the wheel until I got my precious daughter safely home.
This wee illustration is a photo of our hills taken on the day of this journey - Janice
For many of us, all over the world, these are troubling times. Fear can close us up like frost-blackened petals, leave us feeling as if we’re standing on thin ice, an indifferent river flowing beneath our cold feet. It’s tempting to curl up and swaddle ourselves in layers of security, shutting ourselves off from bitter blasts, harsh truths and the risk of ruin.
But maybe the safest way to navigate through these tough times is to trust our gifts and our instincts, to shine as brightly as we can, not just to illuminate the road ahead or carve a swathe of light for others to follow, but to stand out, really stand out, like the bright red berries on frosted branches that carry the promise of spring, or a beacon of hope on the summit of a distant hill.
How will you brighten the world with your gifts today?
Top Photo Credit: Winters Morning by Joanna Young
About the Author:
Janice Hunter is a certified homelife coach and writer. She provides soul food and support for coaches, writers, parents and homebased workers over at www.sharingthejourney.co.uk
How will I brighten the world? I guess by putting out there the gifts which I doubt most!
Janice, what a lovely piece of writing (and thank you for including my photo).
I’m going to go for allowing myself just to be. I have a feeling my light will actually shine brighter if I stop trying so flippin’ hard ;-)
@Chris,
You brighten the world plenty already with your Space here. Just think of the hundreds of couples whose roads you’ve lit up! Your piece today as a wake up call as it reminded me that my husband and I have only been away together childless for one night in fourteen years!
@Joanna,
Thank you! Can’t take any credit for the photo choice, though; it was Karén’s choice. I sent one I took on the day I wrote that piece, but maybe it was just a wee bit too misty and frosty to work as an illustration. I know what you mean about letting go. I’ve learned the hard way that if I try too hard, I don’t leave time or space for the jug to fill to overflowing. You’ve helped so many writers over the years, you deserve the time to focus on your own stuff and see what happens.
Hi Janice .. that was great .. as it’s been this year – not as bad as you’ve had it up north. I love the analogy .. of keeping ourselves illuminated and thus protected -
I guess a shining light, even if we’re feeling terrible and negative, will keep us as a positive beacon to others: remember to show our bright side.
Thanks Janice – glad you’re safe and sound .. and let’s hope the weather warms up soon .. for a few months .. good to see you here .. Hilary
Hi Hilary,
I’m glad you found us here and subscribed. I love the Spaces here.
It’s so tempting, isn’t it, to want to curl up and shut down when times get tough or finances are scary, but we don’t just need to shine our own lights to brighten the way for others; if we need emotional rescue, we sometimes need to keep waving a bright lantern so that we can be found.
Hi Janice – thanks for that .. been here a while – don’t always comment .. but around! I’ve a few things going on this end .. so the light at the end of the tunnel is rather a long way off – but there .. challenging times, but being resolved. All the best – see you soon .. here or there .. Hilary
Hi Janice. I loved your story and the way you have aligned it with the way we live our lives. It is difficult in the middle of a busy life to remember the gifts we have been given, isn’t it? We seemed to know and use them as children but as adults they have started to gather dust. I must dust some off and see what I can find.
Thanks, Anne. You’re so right about how we treated our gifts when we were younger; most of us didn’t have hangups about them. It’s only since my kids became more self aware and self conscious as teenagers that I’ve realised how soul destroying it is when folk deliberately dim their lights to blend in or are afraid of success because of the pain that insecure and jealous folk can inflict. I’m always telling the kids that it’s OK to be curious and empathetic about other folks’ motives, but never to give away their power by hiding their light or dumbing down to fit in. What other folk think of us is their business, not ours.
What a beautiful blessing with which to begin this post! I feel like making that my life’s mission.
I love how you took a life experience and turned it into a life lesson for all of us. I thought to myself as I was reading this, “Why don’t they turn their lights on?” I know it probably didn’t help them see, but it sure would help them be seen!
Then you took us to a place where we could see how this applies to us in our lives. How often we leave our lights off! I am guilty of this. Sometimes it’s because I too want to blend in with the silvery monochromatic background. But that’s not the way to live life, is it?
Thanks for the gentle reminder to let our lights so shine. As always, a thought-provoking and timely post, Janice.
Hi Janice .. loved the picture on your Sharing Journey blog .. wonderful of the glen – just as you describe it … misty, cold, freezing, – gosh am I glad Spring has arrived ..
Enjoy the last few days with the kids – and see you soon .. have happy time – with hugs from the south .. Hilary
Beautiful. I love your positive outlook even during tough times. It’s so easy to fall into whining and complaining. Takes real strength to remain positive.
@Randi,
You are so sweet – I really believe you haven’t noticed yet that you’ve already made this your life’s mission with all the school work, church volunteering, and supportive and inspiring blogging you do while looking after your family too! You shine wherever you communicate with others.
@Hilary,
Hi there. I’m glad you liked the photo. Joanne’s is beautiful, but I like my own too because I took it on the day I had the epiphany that led to this piece. I drive through those hills nearly every day, and one of the benefits of having a writer’s mind is that it encourages me to see the everyday with new eyes and to make the effort not to take my blessings for granted. Hope spring has well and truly blossomed where you are.
@Vered,
Thanks for popping over and for the encouragement. You’re so right. Staying positive is like drinking water; we all know it’s necessary for our health, but the trick is to do it often, to make it a daily habit and a way of life. The benefits of one glass of water or one bout of positive thinking don’t last for ever. That’s why blogs like this one, yours – and those of all the folk who comment here and at our respective blogs – are a great way to connect with an online source of multi-faceted positivity.