I wrote this years ago, but I wanted to share it with you again. Please share your feedback with me. Thanks, Steve
What’s on my mind? Regret, hopelessness, resentment, and fear. I feel as though I am standing at the edge of a sheer cliff, overlooking the utter and complete darkness of an uncertain tomorrow. Every time I try to shine my little flashlight into that darkness, it reveals nothing. By “little flashlight,” I mean my efforts to glimpse the future for any signs of the path that could lead me from where I am to where I need to be—the other side. For years, I have tried to find a way through this darkness, but each time, I am met with what seems like a sheer drop into a bottomless canyon and a dark valley below. At least my little flashlight isn’t bright enough to see the bottom.
Hopelessness often overwhelms me, and I sit down and weep, longing for the comfort that has eluded me.
From time to time, another person arrives, and they appear just as confused as I am. Some seem confident and try to convince me that they have found a way through the dark canyon. However, when I ask further questions, I realize that they are no closer to finding a path than I am.
One day, a woman approached, her arms full of trinkets and a deck of cards in her hands. She sat down beside me and began shuffling the cards with precision and purpose. “These cards hold the answers,” she said, holding up one with intricate, otherworldly designs. “Each draw reveals the path forward, a guiding light in the darkness.”
I watched as she carefully laid out the cards, one by one, explaining their meanings with fervor. “The randomness of the draw isn’t random at all,” she said, her eyes alight with conviction. “The universe speaks through these cards, guiding us with its energy.”
Her voice carried a strange confidence, but as I listened, unease began to creep in. How could a random draw from a deck of cards illuminate a path through such overwhelming darkness? I asked her directly, “But how can darkness dispel darkness? How does pulling a card create clarity?”
Her expression faltered briefly before she replied, “You have to trust the process. The universe’s energy will guide you if you open yourself to it.”
I remained unconvinced. Her words, though earnest, felt like another attempt to wrest control from the uncontrollable. As she gathered her cards and left, clutching them tightly, I thought, “Her path is as uncertain as mine, shrouded in the illusion of order drawn from chaos.”
I have watched as several people brought ropes and attempted to climb down the cliff; most of them are never heard from again. I’ve even seen some run and jump off the edge. When I looked over the cliff, I saw their lights extinguish only a few feet down into the darkness.
One day, I discovered an old, dusty book lying beside a cliff. I recalled hearing people talk about such a book before. While many had quoted some of its contents, most had never allowed it to guide them. The book, worn and aged, seemed untouched for a long time.
Just as I picked up the book and glanced at the cover, a man approached and laughed, saying, “You won’t find any help from that old book. It was written by lost souls who perished while trying to climb down the cliff.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
The man replied, “That old book tells us that God created everything, including you and me, as well as this accursed darkness that prevents us from crossing the doomed valley below.” He continued, “I’ve discovered that we are the product of millions of years of evolution. Somehow, through a cataclysmic event, this canyon of darkness was formed. You and I were birthed from the elements that coalesced, leaving us stuck on this side, ever-changing in shape and form throughout the years.”
I asked the man, “What are we changing shape for?”
“To be better prepared to cross the darkness!” exclaimed the man. “It may not happen in our lifetime, but eventually, humanity will evolve to the point where our descendants can navigate that dark valley without relying on some old, dusty book!” With that, he began to walk away.
Then, as if it were an afterthought, the man turned and said, “Science will lead the way!”
“Have you read this book?” I asked.
“No,” replied the man, “someone told me what it contained.”
I watched as the man turned and walked away, his demeanor seemingly heavy with despair. He moved as if his head were hung low, burdened by sadness. I reflected on his words, which felt as empty and dark as the valley itself. If what he said was true, then I had no hope of crossing the valley in my lifetime; only my future offspring might have that chance. But when would that be? Which future generation could possibly be better equipped than I am, and what form would they take?
I looked back as far as I could, aided by the writings and artistic expressions of those who came before me. There was no indication of any fundamental change in mankind throughout history. I discovered that the idea of humans evolving in shape over time is a relatively recent development. I read about the hopelessness and despair that evolution has left in its wake and how it has wreaked havoc on mankind’s civility. As I observed my surroundings, it became clear that madness had infiltrated society, and people seemed to be acting like animals without any sense of direction. Many no longer sought a way to navigate the dark valley; instead, they looked for ways to numb their minds and escape through drugs.
As I studied humanity, I realized that if evolution were true, our species seems to be reverting to a more brutish form, showing no signs of discovering a way through the dark valley ahead. We are certainly not evolving into a better version of ourselves in preparation for this journey.
I pondered, “How can altering our thoughts through both recreational and medically prescribed substances possibly position mankind for the next evolutionary leap or prepare our offspring for the challenges they will face?” I answered myself, “The result of such misguided actions is humanity’s complete detachment from truth and purpose!”
Just then, a frantic individual ran past me and leaped into the darkness over the cliff, screaming as if they had lost their mind. I have witnessed many men and women do the same thing in the past. It is disheartening to see those who have lost hope resort to such measures. Their actions are often a response to misleading information—a lie they accepted without questioning it further. They tend to run with the crowd, desiring to “fit in” with the flow, rather than seeking the truth that can be discovered by those willing to explore its depths.
“No!” I thought to myself. “That man who told me this dusty book is worthless is a harbinger of lies, spreading hopelessness and despair to the masses. He spouts theories created by scientists who have stepped outside their domain of testing hypotheses in labs and ventured into the untestable—the unrepeatable—creation of man.”
I submitted to the impulse of opening the dusty old book and searching its contents. I chose to open the book to somewhere in the middle and began to read,
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
My heart raced as I read those words. Could it be that I had found a map to navigate the dark valley of death and dwell in the house of the Lord forever? I reflected on this for a while, and I came to understand that it is the Lord who guides us through the valley. He is the leader for those willing to be led through this dark passage.
There is something even more mysterious revealed here: the shepherd leads through a dark valley, yet amidst the surrounding darkness, there are consistent green pastures and calm waters along the path. As the servant Shepherd, the Lord’s rod and staff provide comfort. Rather than instilling fear, the rod and staff offer reassurance and solace.
“How?” I thought to myself.
I quickly realized the answer after asking the question: his rod and staff keep evil enemies at bay.
I have come to understand that as I follow the Lord through the dark valley, He will reveal to me how goodness and lovingkindness will follow me. I want to ask Him about the significance of being anointed with oil and what it means for my cup to overflow. What, I wonder, does my cup represent? I seek to learn more about walking in the paths of righteousness. I also wish to witness how the Lord prepares a banquet for me in the presence of my enemies. Finally, I realize that dwelling in the house of the Lord forever signifies being on the other side of the dark valley.
My mind wandered through the journey, and I began to daydream about what it would feel like. I struggled to comprehend the reality of it all.
Suddenly, I was awakened as if from a dream. I found myself back at the edge of the cliff, sitting with the book open on my lap. I realized that I had just been granted a vision of truth as it was meant to be. Before I was aware of his presence, the Lord stood beside me. He embraced me and repeatedly expressed how much he loved me and how excited he was to have me join him on this journey. He pointed to a well-lit path and invited me to follow him.
I asked him, “Lord, I’ve explored every part of this canyon and have never noticed this pathway before. How did I miss it?”
The Lord responded, “The evil of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, so they cannot see the path. However, to those who believe, it has been granted to have the eyes of their hearts enlightened, enabling them to see Me and follow Me through the dark valley to the house I have prepared for them.”
As I followed the Lord along the path, panic overcame me as I suddenly realized how unrighteous I was. I felt unworthy and wanted to first clean myself up before I would be better prepared for the journey.
The Lord must have known my thoughts, for He turned to me and said, “My child, do not fret over your past! I have cleansed you and am now leading you along paths of righteousness. There is no preparation you can undertake to follow Me; you only need to act on what you know to be true by following Me in faith.”
He smiled at me, love beaming from his eyes as he held out his hand, gesturing for me to follow along the path.
Thus began my journey through the dark valley, with the Lord guiding and protecting me. He provided me with an astonishing banquet table set before me, while my enemies were kept at bay by His powerful rod and staff.
I began to understand what it truly means to walk in the paths of righteousness. I realized that religious devotion and moral conformity have nothing to do with following the Lord through the valley of darkness. The Lord restored my soul as I simply followed Him in faith. Each day of my journey, the Lord has guided me by still waters and into green pastures. I fear no evil, for the Lord is always and consistently with me.
The more time I spend with Him, the greater my understanding of His love for me. Truly, my cup overflows, and I am freed from selfishness, allowing me to love others without expectation and to kindly serve them.
One day, as I lounged in a beautiful green pasture, I decided to peer into a crystal-clear pond. The surface was perfectly still, reflecting everything as if I were standing before the threshold of two identical worlds joined by a seam of connection. As I gazed at my reflection, I noticed a profound change in my soul. No longer was I a man of sin, leaving unrighteousness and hatred in my wake. I had been transformed into a person of righteousness, with goodness and loving-kindness now surrounding me. The Lord had changed me.
The Lord spoke again as if he could read my thoughts, “Child, you are now a harbinger of love and truth!”