PITCH BLACK

It's been awhile. I've been  wandering around in a fog for a bit. Life came at me and tried to drag me under the current, but I have stayed above water and I'm back. It was pitch black for a minute there, but the things that provide light for me prevailed, and once again, I am on the hunt for all things light and good.

Meghan and me at the Twenty One Pilots concert-
soaking in their light 

When I look around at this ever darkening world of ours, I wonder how much more light there is to gain. It's getting harder each time to ignite the match that keeps my pathway lit. It seems the world itself is giving up. There's a somberness over the land. So many people I know can feel it. We talk about ways around it. We wonder what is happening. We wonder how to combat it. Darkness is seeping in every crack, through every groove in the pavement, into the empty places in the hearts of people. And the crazy part? It is WE who have the power to stop it. If we will.

The other night I was flipping through the channels looking for Christmas movies. I survive on Christmas movies at this time of year. The Hallmark Channel is my best friend right now. I'm a sap. I LOVE a happy ending. Because they really do happen. Much of what we do dictates our endings. It doesn't mean things won't get in the way, but fighting the fear of darkness will always uncover the light. At any rate, I came across Rise of the Guardians- which is one of my favorite movies anyway, because A) Santa is in it and B) I believe I am a Guardian. I was enchanted as I watched it, but no scene in the entire movie strikes my heart like the one where Pitch is defeated and the Guardians and the children use their light to turn their fears and nightmares into good dreams and wondrous visions.  IT HEALS MY SOUL. ***For those who haven't seen it, do so immediately, and know that the Boogeyman (Pitch) uses fear to turn good dreams to nightmares. Spoiler alert~when he's defeated,  it's somewhat dramatic. 

Because I am Heather, of course this scene had me crying like a baby. I love it when good wins. I love it when light defeats darkness. I love seeing what faith and belief and hope can do in a world that is full of despair. I was completely delighted by the children touching the nightmares and turning them back into wonderful dreams and fascinations. Though I have seen this movie dozens of times, it reached deeper into my heart than it ever has before because I realized that every single one of has the power to take what is on front of us-whether good or difficult or scary or mean , and change it into something helpful and good and kind and even wonderful.

Memories of Sarah Jane and the GOOD that is in those memories

The magic of the human heart has always been something important to me, but in this world it is one of my lifelines. The magic is that the heart can grow. It is never out of capacity. It can heal. It can give. It can warm. IT CAN CHANGE. With our hearts, we can control how we act, how we react, who we love, how we love, how to give, and whether we can change the bad to good. The power source is right in our own bodies, right inside the cage that protects it. Protection is good, but while fences keep bad out, they can also prevent good from coming in. And we need more good.

So this holiday season, amidst the chaos and ugliness, the perception of commercialism and the sadness that can invade our lives, try reaching out and touching the pitch black and see if you can't use your light to bring a bit of happiness back in. Change those nightmares to good dreams and feelings. Use your magic to change the world. I'll do it with you. And I will be grateful. Merry Christmas!

#DinosaursInTheMud that show me just a little light can change everything