Morning Will Come

Nightfall brought an eerie, foreboding darkness to my soul. Hopelessness and pain chased after me like hungry demons from the grave. I ran from them all, crashing and smashing my way through the trees, my arms and face bleeding where the branches tore at my flesh. Sweat, blood and tears ran together on my face as I ran erratically, unable to put distance between me and my relentless enemy. Hour after hour this battle wore on, until I was gasping for breath and staggering from tree to tree for support. Finally, I collapsed in an unmarked bed of leaves, exhausted and unable to think anymore-unable to fight off the fears inside me. Helpless against the enemy, he overtook me, raging over my mind and heart till everything went cold and grey…and then an empty black.

My charcoal mind was empty without thoughts or movement. My body lay still, deaf and blind. Life had been stolen away, but in its place, at least for this moment, there was rest. No more running, no more fear, no more life. I welcomed it--willing to stay, willing to sacrifice whatever I had been fighting for just to have this empty form of peace. Hours passed and for a brief eternity, the woods were silent. This would be my end. No more suffering. No more pain…for there was nothing left. I had fought, I had run, and … I had lost.

But, then…like a curtain slowly raised on a new stage, the blackness became grey. And the grey slowly lifted as a golden light began to find its way through the dense trees. The sun began to dance quietly on the dew-covered leaves as they stretched out to drink in the warmth. The cold silence slipped away as the ground began to crackle and green branches swayed with the light breeze. Purple and yellow blooms opened their eager faces toward the light and playful little creatures began to stir, peaking out of their moss-covered windows. Slowly this hidden world came to life around my lifeless body. Then, the shimmering sun broke through with a new strength, flooding across the bed where I lay. My body tingled and began to move slightly. I look around hesitantly, remembering the enemy that pursued me just a few hours ago. But there is no sign of them in the trees—no dark presence felt in my soul.

Morning has come and I am still here. I crawl to the clearing where the sun can pour over me again and again and again. I feel its fire restoring my pumping heart within until, once more, I am alive! Suddenly my eyes open for the first time and I see the green fields all around me. And there are people everywhere—young and old. Some are kneeling, some jumping and dancing. Many are standing, just like me, with outstretched hands, their faces turned toward the Source of life. They join hands together and I reach out to those beside me, realizing that I am not alone. Morning has come and I am not alone.

No matter how dark the night--no matter how desperate--the dawn will come. There is no rushing it, but there is also no stopping it. It will come as sure as time advances; as sure as love finds hearts to live for. It is a promise of life. The morning will come.