There was a lone figure walking on a path. Dark hair, pale, with eyes that no longer shone. She walked alone in the cold, dark woods. She tripped on a root, and fell to the ground. Tears fell down her cheeks, and created a pool on the rocky ground. As she pulled herself off of the ground, she kept her eyes down as she walked forward. Then she felt that familiar feeling, her hand being held. She looked over and found that familiar face. There was a terrifying darkness, yet a strange comfort found in the knowing that it would not leave unless she really told it to. It was reliable. The pain of having her hand held by it was worth it, though now she could not tell you why. It seems it was part of the life.
As they walked along slowly, many others approached and voiced their opinions.
“Why are you still walking?”
“Where do you think you are going to end up?”
“Who are you? Oh, right. Not even you can answer that question.”
Depression held her hand the entire time, not letting go. The already dark sky, became even darker as she continued to walk. Though she did not seem to notice. They continued to walk in silence, only speaking rarely when Depression would ask her that question.
“Why are we still walking? We aren’t gonna find it.”
Her response was always the same, “Because I know it is here. I just have to keep going.”
And that she did, for what felt like forever.
As she slept one night, she heard distant laughter. Thought it was nothing that she heard from Depression, who was always there. She sat up and looked around. That was when she saw the light. She slowly stood up, and walked towards it. Depression slowly woke up, and saw her walking away. It tried to get up and follow, but it could not see her. The light made it unable to see anything around. So instead it sat in silence, and hoped that she would come back.
But she did not. She walked towards the light. She felt the ground change beneath her feet. She looked down to find grass, perfectly green and full of life. As she looked around her she saw fields, there was not much in them, but there was sun and green grass. It was more life than she had seen in a long time.
When she looked out into the distance, she could see fields of flowers, and streams of bubbling water. She saw life, and so many things worth running towards. Then she heard running footsteps. She turned, fearing that she would see Depression had followed her from the dark woods. Instead she found herself face to face with Joy. It was a familiar face, one she had missed everyday of the last while. Joy looked at her, smiled, grabbed her hand, and began to run. They ran towards the streams and towards the brightest light she had ever seen. They stopped at the stream, and in the flower fields. There was so much beauty to be found, and knowing that they were heading towards more beauty at all time, made every minute greater and greater.
Every once in a while they would pass by the dark woods, and she would see Depression lurking in the shadows waving, and waiting for her to wander back in. Depression would always be there waiting to befriend her again, that she knew. But she chose every day, to take Joys hand and continue to run towards that light. Everyday she learned more about who she was, and joy showed her what made her life worth living.
And that it was, a life worth living. She felt that more and more everyday. There was a calling on her life, one that was full of joy, peace, and promise. So everyday she pursued that. She pursued the call, and from that came a life of prosperity. The girl who had once tripped and fallen in a weeping heap on the ground was gone. In her place stood a woman who gained her confidence from the Lord, and exuded joy.
There is hope, always hope. Keep pursuing that light. It is the key to living a beautiful life.
It is all a journey. I am barely out of those dark woods, but I see the promise. I see joy coming towards me. I have hope. So here is my heart right now.
This Heart. 