Poem #18--Stars

Stars

I looked into my friend's deep eyes,

The windows to his soul.

I saw that which he tried to hide,

His dread and fears untold.

I saw the pain beyond the panes,

I heard the unspoken plea.

I sensed his view that all was in vain,

That alone he would always be.

His cry for help, real but unvoiced,

Did pierce me to the heart.

That was when I made the choice.

It was time to do my part.

To the balcony I led him then,

To the comfort of the night,

A place where he had often been,

Though always in day's light.

I said, "look up into the sky.

Tell me, what do you see?"

He said, "I see the stars up high,

Shining down on me."

"My friend," I said, "think with me.

When you awoke today,

In morning's light were you able to see

Night's glorious display?

The stars, you see, are always there,

Always giving light,

But of this we are not aware

Until the dead of night.

All of us are like the stars,

All of us do shine.

But we'd never see this light of ours

If it were sunny all the time.

You see, my friend, we need the night,

To realize who we are.

So never try to hide your light:

You're someone's guiding star."

--Karl Southwick

Based on a true story. Many times, we find ourselves lost in darkness. Trials and adversity appear to smother us, and we wonder why. I had a friend who wondered the same thing, and together we learned about our nature as children of a Heavenly King. We all have light, for we are His children, and He is the source of all truth and light. We have this light for a reason--just as sailors and travelers used the stars to guide them at night, there are people who need to see our light in order to find their way. First and foremost among these people is ourselves. We need to be able to see our light in order to know who we truly are, to see the big picture. So instead of asking why life has to get dark, look within and find your light. Never stop shining.