Me:  I see you are walking in the forest.

Prodigal:  Yes, it has been nice.

Me:  Yes, sometimes that is a nice walk.

It has turned dark now.  The outline of the trees look threatening where once they had a calming effect.  I have been in the forest too long now.  I never thought it would take this long.  I never thought that the forest could get this dark.  I know the sun is out there, and will return, but how is that comfort when the darkness is overwhelming?

I started the path in the forest.  It seemed simple. It seemed short.  I knew it might take a while, but I had been on other journey’s.  I had made it, and gained strength.  So this journey should be shorter.  I had skills going in.  I didn’t realize that my skills could barely touch the overwhelming darkness that lasted too long.

I was hesitant at first.  I will not lie.  I had been on several journeys, and I was a little weary.  I did not want to start another journey so soon.  I was afraid of what it would take out of me.

I did not realize how right I was.  How much it would take out of me.  In the darkness you are left with nothing.  With nothing you have to face yourself.  There are no distractions in the darkness.  The distractions mean nothing after awhile.  You are left with not being able to avoid what is all around you.

I started the path, and the light was still there.  I could see patches of darkness in the forest, but somehow I thought they could be avoided.  Then I realized that the path took me straight to the depth of the darkness.

The darkness seems to take over at times.  Was there a time before the darkness.  Has the darkness really been here for this long?

Along the path seemed to point to an opening of light.  It seemed to say this was the end.  How many times did that happen.  Several, to the point it seems foolish to think that the end was there.  It was a brief time of less darkness, but I was still in the forest.  I was still on this path.

You know that this darkness in this forest cannot last forever.  It is hard to see that though.  The darkness plays with time, and hope.  You know this path has to end.  Will it end to another dark path.  How about a path with light.  Is that even for me?

You have questioned over, and over again, why not just leave the path?  Being lost is worse than any path in the darkness.  Your life turns messy quickly when you have no direction at all.

So you are in the darkness, knowing that this may be your path for a long time.  You know you have to stay on the path.

As the darkness suffocates you today.  As the darkness attempts to even make breathing difficult.  You focus on the end of the path, and the light that will surround you completely.  You know one day that will happen, and you know one day it will all make up for all the darkness.

For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word?  Who hath marked his word, and heard it?

Jeremiah 23:18

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org