During the long dark nights of suffering and uncertainty, we long to see, hear, or feel the presence of God, but sometimes we feel nothing but the silence and the darkness. Here is a story I found and find helpful.
A tribe of Native Americans had a special rite of passage that transformed boys into young braves. When a boy turned thirteen he was blindfolded and taken deep into the woods. There he was left to fend off the fears of the night.
The young man had never been apart from his family until that night. He had been thoroughly taught about the night, its dangers, and how to survive. The training was now put to the test. Would he trust the training and be courageous?
After being placed in the middle of unfamiliarity, he removed his blindfold and saw nothing but loneliness barely illuminated by the thin slice of the moon and distant stars. The darkness and solitude magnified every sound of the woods. What dangers lurked nearby?
After a very long night, the first signs of daylight broke through heavy tree canopy. The young brave, successfully enduring the night, began to see trees and then a path. As his eyes began down the path, he was startled.
His eyes focused on a fierce warrior only a short distance away. The warrior had bow and arrow in hand, ready to stop any threat. It was the boy’s father. He had silently kept watch through the night.
Silent presence and protection. Thank you, Father.
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