Are You a Dark Torch?

Always cast light onto life situations

Marguerite Daisies at Evergreen, shining their light as usual.

Years ago I saw a cartoon strip in a newspaper in which one of the characters had invented a torch that operated in reverse. Instead of casting a circle of light when he turned it on, it cast a shadow.

He was very excited about his invention but his cartoon friend questioned the need for such a thing. I have a vague memory of the inventor suggesting that if a thief broke into his house he could creep behind him and shine the shadow torch on things he didn’t want the thief to see, for instance a jewellery box or a locked safe.

I found this idea hilarious and imagined myself going through life with such a torch, shining dark circle shadows on things I’d rather were hidden:

• the negative balance on my bank statement

• a cake burnt around the edges and sunken in the middle

• two drooping indoor ferns killed through neglect

• my list of impressive New Year Resolutions which I had (as usual) forgotten all about

Thinking about it more seriously, I recalled my tendency to cast shadows instead of light on events in my life which merely needed sorting. Instead of shining the light of intelligence and experience onto each situation, I threw a dark shadow of negative thoughts over them, convincing myself that the universe was against me and there was no help in sight.

And what about the times I focussed my shadow torch on other people’s life situations instead of offering useful, light-filled assistance or minding my own business?

It was an amusing cartoon but whenever I recall it I wonder if I am sometimes like that cartoon torch of darkness.

It’s a good question to ask ourselves as we negotiate daily life:

Am I casting a shadow onto this situation, or am I casting light?

With love, Marlane