I Prefer the Darkness More Than the Light

I often find it frustrating that I am never as resolute about my new year’s resolutions as I would like to be. Here is a poem I wrote about that. About the human condition. And about a divine love that knows no bounds.

So, dear friends, lets have another go at life in this new year. Let’s try. Let’s even try hard.

But when our trying doesn’t work out as we had hoped, let’s turn to that divine Love. Let’s find solace, hope and strength to continue again …bringing light into a world of darkness.

Know this, dear friend: You are enough. You are loved. Just the way you are …Even if you prefer the darkness more than the light. It’s a God thing. Believe me. I know.

Happy New Year!

I put on sunglasses when it gets too bright

some things are better kept out of sight

I close my eyes and hold on tight

‘cos I prefer the darkness more than the light

like you, I was born with an iconic face

that lost its glory in the chase

taking wrong turns all over the place

refusing to accept Love’s embrace

pull the wool over my eyes

let the blind lead the blind

convince myself they’re wrong, I’m right

But I’m not the first pharisee to be blinded by delight

Then Light, “broken for you”, reveals all the colour

a spectrum of perspectives that perceives the other

and brings me to my knees, humbly to discover

I’ll never be good enough. God is a Lover.

its a new dawn, a new day, a new start, a new chance

to live and laugh and sing and dance

to open my eyes and C the unseen

accept the greatest Love the world has ever seen

and on that final day, when my heart beats its last

and the light of this world I no longer can see

I’ll realise I’ve actually never seen the light.

but rather, it is Light that enables me to see

and I won’t need sunglasses when it gets too bright

and all things are never kept out of sight

I’ll open my eyes and hold on tight

‘cos I know the darkness has not overcome the Light.

Barry Sloan, 1st January 2024, Chemnitz