Darkness overcome by the light

By Randall Franks

Inside the depths sometimes there emerges evil from the darkness.

This is often the image seen as we sit watching a film or TV show as we sit on the edge of our seats, sometimes even screaming at the character – don’t go in there!

But inevitably, to push the story along, the character presses on often to his/her own dismay or demise. I wish that these moments were left to the world of fiction but sadly there is a reality that finds each of us at some point in our lives when the darkness envelopes the circumstances of our lives.

The darkness can be brought on by others or us, or a mixture of both. They can also simply be the reflection of things within you not working the way they were intended. Chemical imbalances, mental illness, addictions are all part of that mix.

These moments can push a person on much like the character in the movie. That can entail them doing things that they would never do otherwise.

I wish I could say in my life that I have not seen such moments, but I have seen my family struggle with the impact of the darkness. The only thing in science that will chase away the dark is the light. In my belief, the greatest Light emanates from God’s love shared through Jesus Christ. He is always there waiting to shine upon even when we wish to cover our own lives in the darkness. There is no deep cavern of shame, regret or guilt that any of us can enter that His light cannot find where we are. All we have to do is ask.

The asking isn’t always easy, but one thing for sure, beyond the asking comes the hardest part of the work to push the darkness away each and every time it creeps into our environs. He will walk along with us providing the Light even when we are weak. He will cry with us when we fail, fall short and are flat on the ground begging for Him to take us back.

The greatest gift is He never let us go, He was there hoping for us to prevail. While we may not do it each and every time, He is still there.

He is why so many are also still there and did not completely give up to the darkness.

I pray that you always find the Light shining upon your path.

Randall Franks is an award-winning musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” now on WGN America. His latest 2019 # 1 CD release, “Americana Youth of Southern Appalachia,” is by the Share America Foundation. He is a member of the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. His latest book is “A Badge or an Old Guitar: A Music City Murder Mystery.” He is a syndicated columnist for http://randallfranks.com/ and can be reached at [email protected].