The Darkness That Defines the Light

If all darkness were to vanish from this world, and every direction were filled with uniform white light, what would we see?

Ironically, we would be able to see nothing at all.

What allows us to perceive the shape of objects is the shadow that falls behind them. The ridgeline of a mountain is beautiful because deep darkness gathers in the valleys, and the face of a loved one emerges in three dimensions because subtle shadows dwell in their cheeks and eyes.

We often try to push darkness away as a "lack" or as "evil." However, true darkness is not the enemy of light. It is what defines the light.

Because there is the deep darkness of night, we feel "warmth" in the small glow of a lightbulb leaking from a window. Because we know the darkness of loneliness, we shed tears at the "brilliance" of the moment our hearts connect with someone else.

Just as you cannot paint a picture on a pure white canvas with white paint, the story of our lives only allows the color of joy to stand out vividly because of the black paint of sadness and suffering.

Darkness is not an existence meant to extinguish the light.

It is a signpost meant to gently show us where the light is.

_Because there is darkness, there is light

Because there is darkness, there is light

Because there are shadows, there are shapes

Because there is night, there is morning

Because there is death, there is life

Such an obvious thing

Something everyone knows

And yet, that obvious thing

For some reason, feels so precious

Searching for light in the darkness

Seeking form within the shadows

Waiting for the morning within the night

Living life within death

That is our life

That is our story

There is light because there is darkness

Let us be grateful for that

Let us bless that

Let us feel the joy of being alive in that

#ThereIsLightBecauseThereIsDarkness
#AoBuraLiteratureClub
#AkiraYamaneProject

Akira Yamane-san, I look forward to working with you 🙇⤵️