Lesson from the Spirit

Parable of the Firefly

"Walking through a dark forest does not necessarily mean you are lost.
Did you know the parable of the firefly?"
"No."
"It is a wondrous story.
Once there was a little firefly who was afraid of the dark; he shone brightly even by day and never stayed alone.
But once he had to walk through a dark forest returning home to his family after a long outing. He had been playing, as happens. And yet he was meant to return. He was not used to being alone, but strangers' voices frightened him. He was afraid and would not accept anything new in his life.
As he went home, it seemed to him that the dark forest wanted to swallow him.
He entered that dark forest. But his light was too small. Fear. Fear demanded more and more, and the more he tried to shine, the less light he saw.
And so fear, insatiable fear, consumed him until the light inside him went out completely. What did he do, do you think?"
"I don't know. Did he call for help?"
"No, he had become so weak he could not. But at that very moment, when he thought all was over for him, he suddenly stopped being afraid. For how can you fear when there is no hope, no way out, nothing, no you. He accepted that fear within himself as an important and necessary lesson. And a new light kindled inside him. So bright and beautiful that he immediately heard the voices of his family coming to help. What is this parable about?"
"About fears?"
"This parable is about your inner light. It is not terrible to be afraid as long as you see a way out. Far worse is to despair.
But even then, in that despair, to discern the seed of light within yourself is the beginning of a great path.
It is not terrible to be frightened. Everyone is afraid, but not everyone is able to see their fear, to look it in the face, to understand that it sees only its own reflection.
Being in a dark forest does not mean being lost; while that true, bright, warm light shines within each of you, you will not be lost and you will not fear anything, for fear will be only an indicator of the right path for you.
And then you will understand that you are not forsaken, that you are not alone. Because your light is visible to others.
How else can you be seen in darkness, in gloom? How can you see yourself if you extinguish the light within your soul?
So do not despair when darkness thickens around you; open your eyes and see in that darkness the true way out for the light of your soul.
So be it. 🙏"