Lost in the texture of this photo, and overcome with thoughts surrounding the contrast between dark and light. If I captured more contrast between the two, this photo would be something truly beautiful.
In nature, a drastic contrast between opposite forces creates an awe-inspiring moment, and if you’re lucky, you’ll capture it in a photo. This is so obvious in nature, but in ourselves, we do everything and anything to block out the darkness and pretend it doesn’t exist. I have so many questions about this natural response of avoidance that we all have.
There’s so much pain in people today.
There’s so much darkness.
There’s so much avoidance.
Is it just our culture? Do we internally suffer so much here, because we’re obsessed with portraying happiness externally when life will undoubtedly force you to face elements of suffering and darkness?
Is the inability to deal with the internal darkness a result of the fact that we have too many vices to help us escape from feeling anything at all?
Are we then faced with a drastically darker darkness in consequence of trying to numb the pain with the first easily accessible vice we can find?
Should we be taught tools to deal with the darkness at a young age?
Is it an obvious lesson that we are too proud to admit falling short of? Is it something people already do, but too many of us have failed at? I’m reminded of the ancient proverb about the battle between two wolves:
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy
”It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
“Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
