Leaping into the Void: Lessons in Trust

 Photo Credit: by Sasha Kopf under GNU license on wikimedia commons

Often, we are faced with making a decision that fills us with fear.  Often, the only way to get where we need to go is to have the courage to take a leap of faith.  Often, the courage comes from a tiny spark  - like a satellite sent towards the dark unknown, which finds new universes, our tiny light suddenly is revealed as the brilliant star of hope.


The following is by John O’Donohue, a poet and philosopher who is best known for his book, Anam Cara, (Gaelic for "Soul Friend"; 1997). This is a poem about finding that light.

For Courage ~ John O'Donohue

When the light around you lessens

And your thoughts darken until

Your body feels fear turn

Cold as a stone inside,

When you find yourself bereft

Of any belief in yourself

And all you unknowingly

Leaned on has fallen,

When one voice commands

Your whole heart

And it is raven dark,

Steady yourself and see

That it is your own thinking

That darkens your world,

Search and you will find,

A diamond thought of light,

Know that you are not alone

And that this darkness has purpose,

Gradually it will school your eyes

To find the one gift your life requires

Hidden within this night corner,

Invoke the learning,

Of every suffering

You have suffered.

Close your eyes,

Gather all the kindling

About your heart

To create one spark,

That is all you need

To nourish the flame

That will cleanse the dark

Of its weight of fostered fear,

A new confidence will come alive,

To urge you toward higher ground,

Where your imagination

Will learn to engage difficulty

As its most rewarding threshold! 

Image by anetz via Flickr