Gleek is the proud owner of a pair of silver sparkle-encrusted flip flops. This morning as we drove in the car, sunlight struck the sparkles and sent little dots of light all over the back seat. Gleek was enraptured. Then the car turned and the sunlight no longer hit the sparkles. Fortunately for Gleek we turned several more times. Each time the sunlight hit those shoes, Gleek would announce it to the world in general. “Sparkles again!”
This incident would have been fairly ordinary, except that Gleek made the observation that sparkles from her shoes sent light even into the darkest places of the car. I thought about that. Then I thought how when the sunlight did not hit the shoes those dark places remained unlit. In order for a reflective surface to send light into dark places, the reflective surface must remain in the light. If, in an effort to get more light into the darkness, the reflective surface is moved closer to the dark and is no longer in light, then all the light is gone. Since the sun is constant, the only way to shine more light into the darkness is to improve the quality of the reflective surface.
I thought about all of that. I made connections between reflective surfaces and people. Then I reflected on how thoroughly the analogy can break down if technology like flashlights are introduced. I’ve decided that I like the beauty of the analogy. I like the idea that if we stand in good places we can reflect some of that goodness into places that are dark. It is a nice thought.
Illumination is good. But there is also a need for people willing to walk in the dark places when they must.
There’s a need to get light where it’s wanted or needed and quit sending it where it’s not wanted or needed. In it’s most basic form, if we stop wasting gigawatts with inefficient lighting we can all see the stars.
I like your analogy, though, Sandra. Mind, in my life, I’ve been trying in my own small way to spread light and joy into places where it wasn’t, and some bunch of do-gooders come along and invoke the power of the great shadowy authority, which then looms over me and blocks out the sunlight. Sorry if that sounds a bit dark, but that’s the way I feel right now; comes the end of this school term (on July 20), I’m more or less bound to have to give up a job I love doing because some lot in the government have decreed that there must not be unlicensed vehicles doing contract hire work. This will benefit no-one. [more details in my LJ if anyone cares]
Please can I have some of that light, if there’s any going spare?
I’m sorry about your job. It is always hard to have something you love snatched away from you.
So am I; sorry, that is. It’s been a good 7 years, there’ve been the usual ups and downs, disasters and odd moments of delight.
I’m trying to look on it as a new opportunity for a new beginning, but it’s hard at times, I’ll ask all who know me to excuse in advance the odd dark or depressing post… Normal service, as they say, will be resumed ASAP.