The Day Light and the Dark Night

Once upon a time, when Day was dawning, and Night was just retreating over the newly-illuminated hills, Night spoke for the first time to its enemy.

"You know, one so bright, one day you will not ruin my deep haze. One day you will cease to shine, for your rays are numbered, but I will always be. You are but a mass of matter and gas, just so much smoke and fire. Your time will come and you will die, just like all things, but I will go on forever."

This startled Day because it was not used to being spoken to so harshly. As a matter of fact, everyone had always been sweet to the Day and happy to see it. The birds would chirp merrily and all seemed well. Now Day was feeling most concerned and let the clouds hide its face for most of the morning. Finally, Day could not help but be what it was, and let the Sun shine brightly.

Now, each time Night would seep into an area behind the brightness and the Sun would set to its inhabitants, Night would mock Day and tell of a wonderful time when dark would reign supreme over all the land. "You glow now for all to see, but one day, my beaming opposer, you will turn as cold and dank as me and I will rule. My source does not rely on a ball of fire but I am self-sufficient. I am as I always have been. You were created with a beginning and one day, you will have an end." Finally, Day no longer paid attention to the mocking of the darkness, but decided to be happy to shine as brilliantly as possible, each day bringing joy for all to see for as long as it could. Each day, it glowed even more brightly, pushing back the gray every time it dawned over the horizon, even with Night not far behind, with its fingers of chill.

Day would not be there at night to hear Night smite the land and its fruit with terror, but when Day flamed hot at the noon hour, it would hear the flowers say to the bees, "What will we do when the sun shines no more? How will we get the power to open up our petals and present our beauty to add to the glory of life?"

"I don't know," The bees would retort as they butted in to take their nectar. "How will we gain our food to give us the power to carry the pollen as is our job?"

All of nature wondered what their fate would be. But all decided that they would continue to give their all for as long as they could, and in doing their job so well, someone would surely come to rescue them from their dilemma, because that was right and what was right had always been done and had always been right.

Each had heard and watched Night yawning with no cares, assured of eternal existence. "Soon your happy time will be over and all things will be mine to conquer. There will be no more sunny times for you as I will use all to be somber like I am."

Even those that were awake at night and liked that time grew worried, for they knew that their existence depended on the Light, and even they began to hate the time they used to love with the forever-scorning dark. One day, as Night rolled its way along, consuming a particularly nice spot from the leaving Day, Night continued its torment, commenting on how many had died and succumbed to its cold fortress of contempt during its ritual time. This time, Day had a thought.

Day paid no attention to the jeering Night, but told of a smaller ball of fire that had once been and now is no more. "The moon is now my companion as you will soon be, no longer able to cause me to hide."

When Night again pointed out how he needs no source to exist, it just is, Day paid no attention, for the Light had a secret. "Goodbye Day," Night called.

"Goodnight to you," replied Day, "because you cause sleep." This last statement gave Night a shudder, which wasn't easy because the dark was so used to the chill. Of course, Night did not let Day know it had caught a chill from the statement. But Day knew because when it had surprised Night and blazed across the fields broadcasting its glory, Night was quiet and slipped away more quickly than before, as if suddenly aware of a new foe.

After a time, Night whispered to Day, "Tell me your secret. I know you have one because I have heard the others proclaim it as I squeeze the last of their life away. What is it?" But the sun just shone all the more brightly, glistening on all its beauteous life.

Night could take no more. "Why are you so happy?" Now flinging icy tendrils around Day, trying to frighten it away. "What is your secret?" Night demanded, suspicious for the first time that it was the one without much power. "If you have a secret, oh one of Light, what is it? Where is it? Who is it?" Night stood from afar, glaring at the sun. "You will burn out and will be no more. I have seen it many times. I will prevail. I will live forever. But I must know your secret!"

Finally, Day decided to speak. "Can't you see it my foolish one? Can't you see the evidence? It's shining brightly for all to see."

"What is so evident?" shot back Night. "I can only see an end to you and no end to me! Even today, you are dimmer than you were yesterday. You three are dying, Sun... Light... Day."

"My silly friend, It is you that causes death, not I. You will always become what you cause. Haven't you been watching existence? Or have you only been playing in your own desires. Is it because you are always in the dark that you've never seen the Light? Watch creation. Watch what always is. One always becomes what one has caused. Did I not hear you boast of misery and pain, of death and dying? Are you not the Father of such things?"

Just then, a very bright light shone so brightly that there was not a shadow to be seen, not even under a rock. It was all things. It was the flowers and the bees and all love and life. It was the SON, a different SON.

"Where are you now? Called the Light to the dark. "Come see my secret!" But the dark was quiet because it wasn't anywhere.

[ Contributed by Marjeana Martin (BlueAngelBabie@aol.com) -- from 'Daily Wisdom' ]