Originally published Wednesday, 01 February 2017.
Caverns seem safe, but you aren’t meant to live with emotional burdens.
Caverns offer comfort, but there are mountains of potential beloved—only meant for YOU to climb.
Your life is a grand summation of experiences, a collection of memories and moments, peppered with triumph and heartache.
If hope resurfaced, where would you go?
What would you do? Friend, it’s your decision, but why wait? What would happen if you emerged?
True knowledge—according to the philosopher Plato—is only attained when one rejects shadows. The Allegory of the Cave speaks of chain-bound inhabitants, spellbound by shadows cast onto the cavern wall.
Plato writes, “Such persons would certainly believe that there were no realities except those of shadows.”
The prisoners aren’t aware of the single-file line of marching people on a back-lit catwalk; people who offer deceptive and alluring shadows alone.
The light of day they haven’t experienced.
They haven’t experienced the beauty of a red-orbed sun descend behind the ocean.
We have all succumbed to shadow-realities of our own, yet hope will ALWAYS leads us out.
Furtive thoughts whisper:
• Hope is an illusion, stay in these murky depths of comfort
• Things will never change
• I am not worthy of love and respect
Plato ends his allegory with viable hope—one captive is freed.
I imagine a woman stumbling upwards. Weak-muscled. Desperately curious.
She emerges from her cavern to the light of the moon, in awe of its beauty. She reaches for her surroundings, overwhelmed with gratitude by her release.
By day, she explores the lush pastures of her landscape, the sun warming her pale flesh. Sheer joy. Living life beyond the shadows forever changes her
Are you in unfettered chains? Are you struggling with shadow-realities taunting you with false hope?
I liken this allegory to the deceptive light our invisible enemy casts: False light which revels in our enslavements.
Can I tell you something? You don’t have to remain bound in emotional pain.
If you struggle with fear, you can ask the Christ, Divine Excavator for healing. You can relinquish burdens which inhabit your heart-caverns.
The Prophet Isaiah speaks of joy found while communing with the Living God:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
“Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy, { Verses 1-5}.
Our finite minds are unable to comprehend the fullness of what awaits us—we only receive hopeful glimpses.
One day we will be in the presence of Christ—our Divine Excavator. This promise awaits us and our beloved children.
Will you ascend? Will you grab hold of a divine life-line?
Are you ready to expose the shadows which have paraded around long enough? He calls us forth, asking us to leave yesterday ruminations behind.
So come forth, Daughter of the King. Ascend from your heart cavern and be open to Divine Healing today.
Photo courtesy of: Unsplash
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