LUMIèRE

Front seat. Cool breeze from the car's airconditioning unit. Mellow music bringing flashes of the younger, lighter-burdened former life. Moving slowly through heavy traffic, giddy after every landmark crossed over. The destination is still so far but at least the flow is forward. Much like trying to leave the not-so-good-recent-past behind. More of getting over memories of unfortunate events. 

Finally, a clear path lay ahead. I suddenly feel the space around me. (how do you feel something that is not there? perhaps emptiness transcends beyond the senses huh?) Ahh, now I have more room to be at ease. I have a clear, wide-angled view of the future, err, of the road ahead, of where I am supposed to go, of where I should be. What a perfect moment to chillax!

But who am I fooling? It is obviously not the right time yet. The bad memory is still fresh in the trash bin of my mind...cool breeze becomes too cold for comfort...punk music whose lyrics almost sounded indecipherable messed up the reflective mood...bleak...gloomy...then there was light!

Lamp post by the Bay
Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila 2009

It is amazing to witness the lighting up of streetlights at dusk*. They seem insignificant at first, with the sun still above the horizon. But they are the epitome of preparedness. For when dark time comes, they know they will matter. They are like shining, shimmering stars lighting up the whole, dark world. Like a glimmer of hope, a ray of sunshine after a devastating thunderstorm - the saving grace no one has the right to but so deserved, the buoyancy when you are densest, a clear road on a traffic-laden trip, that which is supposed to be at the end of the tunnel.

God listens after all.

Maybe it is not too much to ask.

And, as always, He never lets us down.

Maybe the brighter tomorrow that is so desperately sought after is not years, but just moments away.

Much  like the crazy idea of streetlights turning on before darkness consumes the earth.

He knows what we need before we even ask. He knows us well to rescue us even before we sense danger.

Sunshine. Lightning. A smile. A heartbeat. A much-needed spark. A very valuable resource.

No need to shout to be taken out of the dark; He knows we do not want to be there. 

*QUESTION:
How do streetlights turn on automaticaly at night?

ANSWER:
On the Flintstones, a small bird sits inside the light and turns it on every night before he goes to bed.
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