On Torches

Imagine, if you will, a torch. It burns brightly, illuminating... nothing. You are standing in the sun. You feel the warmth of the sun, and the light seems to go on forever, without any trouble whatsoever. The torch yet burns, held aloft in your hands. What is the torch doing to illuminate your surroundings? Nothing, yes? Let's go a step further, and imagine that you have found a torch that burns a full ten times brighter than any torch you have ever seen. It, also, illuminates nothing while standing in full unobstructed daylight. As the sun starts to dip, and casts shadows, the light may begin to be detected. When the sun hides behind the horizon, and it's light goes gray, the light of the torch becomes more evident. It starts to feel useful, and you can begin to feel it's warmth. Then dusk passes, and night sets in. In the dark, the torch can be seen from quite some distance, but the radius around you is limited. The torch is now serving a purpose. It stands as a beacon, giving warmth and light. During the day, that same torch can be taken underground, and it also serves a purpose. It can be taken into windowless rooms, cellars and basements. Into places that never see the sun. Into the dark. In the dark, your torch serves a purpose. And if I were venturing into the dark, I would like that torch to be carried by someone who knew the way through the dark places, having been that way before.

Now imagine someone told you that your torch was a rare gift, and there were people lost in the dark who could not find the sun. Also, that it is entirely your choice what you do with that torch. You are not being made to do anything you do not wish. The choice is yours. And on top of that, if you choose to venture into the dark, there will be those who do not believe your tales of the sun, having never seen the like for themselves. They must be able to relate to the one who is trying to convince them, and you must understand who you are trying to convince. If they see something of themselves in you, you are not a stranger. So, if you had experience in dark places, you know the way out, having been that way before. So to help anyone is to trod a path from the darkness into the light, and to return to the darkness. To give your torch purpose, it must be in the dark. To find the people, you must know how to move through darkness. If you stay in the sun, they stay in the dark.

So, some of the most effective torch bearers are a bit rough around the edges. They aren't perfect people, and we should not expect them to be. In the world they live in, it helps to be relatable and approachable. It doesn't feel like an impossible goal, and they are good people. They wander into darkness for the sake of others, for example. They do not take, but will accept. They do not demand but will suggest. They work in the grey. They take white into black, light into dark. And they are needed, and appreciated, and loved for being the ones to do it, from the ones they help.

Now stop imagining. This little exercise has a two part purpose. First, to point out that if you are trying to help people, expect to get a little uncomfortable. To really get people through the worst things, someone has to go with them, or go in to get them. And second, I have met some swearing, smoking, drinking energy healers that do real good. They open hearts and generate love and thankfulness. Some people do it without realizing it. And if you find yourself having a crisis, you won't care about tattoos, piercings, or if they swear a lot. You'll be grateful for the help, from a real person and not someone else's idea of what it should look like. It should look like whatever you feel comfortable with. Find someone on a level that can relate to you. Whatever makes you willing to get better, or feel like it is possible. Any progress is a good thing. And working from where you are is the very nature of progress. No matter who, where or what you are, good can be done and help can be given. Any experience provides understanding and knowledge, and the value of that knowledge lies in what you do with it. Your torch is powered by that knowledge, and light can always come from it. Don't worry so much about not suppose to. Be you, love and forgive yourself, and understand that you can only grow from where you are. Shine your light so that others who are within viewing distance of that light may follow, and head for the sun.