Dark, My Old Friend
Last weekend, my crew and I watched the new family film based on the book, "Orion and the Dark," on Netflix. It’s an animated movie about a boy named Orion who is perpetually afraid and anxious. His chronic anxiety makes it hard for him to navigate the life of an eleven-year-old. His greatest fear, however, is a fear of the dark. One night, the dark becomes personified and greets Orion, hoping to convince him that he's not bad. The boy’s fear is normal; as a species, we've evolved to have survival instincts in the dark and prefer to live in the light. While counterintuitive, we need to grow our appreciation for what the dark brings to our lives here on Earth. I won't spoil the movie because everyone should see it. I love the story's creativity. Orion's adventure invites us all into a conversation about the merits of darkness. The movie has inspired some thoughts for me; here are a few.
While we prefer the security of the light, the best place to find rest is in the dark.
True character can develop when we work in obscurity, away from the limelight.
Creativity is preceded by times of darkness. My best creative thinking always happens in the morning after the blackness of night.
Most of us were conceived in the dark! It can’t be that bad!
Periods of darkness are normal, and needed to sustain life.
There’s a moment in the film where the writers point out that life in the dark can be humbling. We need community the most when we can’t see or know all of the answers. Think about how exhausting conversations can be on social media. The worst social media fights are with those who seem to have absolute clarity on whatever the issue is. A little less self-righteous clarity and more personal humility will go a long way to helping us enjoy life in community. As we learn in the story, rested human beings with sweet dreams make for a better world!
So, be encouraged if you feel like you’re in a dark place in life. It’s only temporary. My hope for you, though, is that it will help you see the world differently and appreciate daylight when it finally comes for you.
In the meantime, put on some comfy clothes, make some buttery popcorn, and enjoy the show.