nor even the back of my hand.
--not even the ground where I stand.
I've stumbled around for a while now,
feeling my way through the gloom,
but I've crashed and I've fallen over things I don't see
in this ever-more dangerous room.
I thought I heard something call this way and that
but every sound led to and end.
It seems nothing can save me from hurting myself
in this dizzying, never-ending trend.
So I stand in this spot for an hour or two,
and suddenly hours turn to days,
and for weeks, months and years I stand, biding the time
in this dispirited and darkening haze.
At first I'm deluded that I can fend for myself,
that alone, in the dark, I'll find peace--
--but it doesn't take long for my own strength to fail
and, of necessity, I fall to my knees.
With my head in my hands I weep silently,
unsure that I'll ever find my way,
wishing and praying that someone would hear me
and cast this desperation away.
Then beneath me I feel, to my great surprise,
something that may make things right.
As my hands reach down and bring the object up
I find that I hold a flashlight.
It takes a little fumbling to make it turn on
but, sure enough, the little light glows.
Though I cannot see far, I move slowly ahead
towards the few feet ahead now exposed.
Ever-more clear, I begin at a crawl
maneuvering between all the mess.
Though not without effort, I am able to weave
through the obstacles with some success.
With each push forward, I note that the light
shines brighter than the moment before,
and, with that hope, I pull myself up
to my feet to search for a Door.
Suddenly I hear, to my left I believe,
a familiar whimper of doubt.
I shine my light there, and I'm shocked to discover
I'm not the only one wandering about.
Another is here, and he's standing alone,
wearied from lack of sight--
--I urge him to get to his knees, as I did,
and search for the same saving light.
He fumbles around, he flips on the switch,
and together we journey ahead.
Our two lights combine to illuminate our way
and by light, and by faith, we are led.
We find many are here who do not know their way
and we eagerly urge them to kneel
and feel for the object we're sure they will find
that will make the way forward appear.
And still, with each step, my light burns ever-more
as we travel along in our pack.
Sometimes we trip, but we pick ourselves up
and, with that light, we stay on track.
At times we journey and come to a wall
and find that we must turn around,
but once we are back in our steady trail
the light burns, and we know we're home-bound.
At last, the faint glow of something ahead
makes us move at a quickening pace.
We all weep together as we realize
that we've finally found the place.
As we approach, to our great delight,
we see what we'd doubted before--
--tall and inviting, with light round-about shining,
stands the magnificent, long-sought-for Door!
I run and eagerly pull at the handle
but find I can't do it alone.
The door is too heavy, but before I give up
I feel someone pull with more strength than my own--
--and, just like that, the Door swings open wide
and the bright light encircles me all around.
Never could I imagine the joy that I feel
and, overwhelmed, I fall to the ground.
Then a voice, clear and loving, calls me by my name
and says, "I see that you finally found my light.
Stand up," He commands, and I rise to behold
someone I've never seen, but I recognize by sight.
Arms outstretched, He says, "Come unto me"--
--how could I have imagined something more blessed?--
--what peace!--as I fall in His arms and He says,
"Well done, little one--enter ye into my rest."
Peace,
peace be unto you,
because of your
faith
in my
Well Beloved,
who was from the foundation of
the world.
Helaman 5:47
