Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Where the Light Is


So I ran into Frank who was standing under a street lamp frantically looking for something.

“Did you lose something, Frank?”

“Something? Not just ‘something.’ I lost a gold coin my great grandma left me,” said Frank. “I heard it drop.”

“Where exactly did you hear it drop?” I asked.

“Way back a couple of blocks on Miner’s Lane,” said Frank.

I was puzzled. “So why aren’t you looking over there?” I asked.

“Because the light is better over here,” Frank answered.

It’s an old story, and it got me thinking how we look not where the treasure is, but where the light is.

For writers and artists the real treasure is the gift of creating something new, looking at what you’ve made, and seeing that it is good. For one brief moment you get a hint of a whiff of the way we are made in our creator’s image.

The light may be worldly recognition. Not knocking it, but not confusing it with the real treasure either.

5 comments:

Ruth Schiffmann said...

Thought provoking post, Mirka. Thanks!

Kelly Hashway said...

Brilliant, Mirka! And absolutely true!

Anne M Leone said...

I love this metaphor! So true. And such a good reminder, too. Thank you.

Marcia said...

Yes, that's just the way I picture us made in His image as well.

Hmm -- we so need the light to find the treasure, that we'll look even where the treasure ISN'T if the light is there. Or, we'd rather find whatever treasure may be in the spot where the light shines.

Anonymous said...

There is a difference between the light and the treasure. Great post, Mirka.