The location of this photo is Point Park on Lookout Mountain, in north Georgia which overlooks Chattanooga Tennessee.  Point Park was built in 1905 to commemorate the Battle above the Clouds, fought during the Civil War.  I have always loved this park and have found myself admiring the sights here many times.  On more than one occasion, I have wandered here to find men and women dressed in Civil War outfits discussing the great battle.

          On this occasion, I ventured here to experiment with some night photography.  The temperature is about 40 degrees, the wind is blowing about 20 mph and it is about 10 o’clock at night, perhaps these are the reasons that I find myself alone here tonight.  Also, I notice that there is a sign that states, park closed at sunset.  At any rate, I am left alone to practice my night photography.

          I can recall the sounds that rose from the valley below me; the wind moaning as it travels through the trees, the buzz rising from the automobiles roaming along Interstate 24 a few miles below and the sounds of a lonesome train horn in the distance.  As I consider this night, I am reminded of how great a teacher darkness and silence are. 

          Darkness can teach you a lot about a camera.  If you do not believe me, try some night photography.  Keep trying until you learn to use your camera in the dark.  Then you will know what I am talking about.  Our problem is, if the conditions are not perfect, we refuse to try.  We want to stick with the comfortable, the predictable and the easy.  We need to expand our horizons, try something difficult and dare to travel on the road less traveled.

          We live in a dark world and are surrounded by people who fear the night.  Our task is to bring light, life and hope into the lives of the people who cross our paths.  How do you do that?  Light the candle of kindness when you see someone walking in darkness.  Let your light shine for those who have fallen and remember that, He climbs highest who helps another up.  We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own. 

Something to think about:

• There is not enough darkness in the entire world to put out the light of even one small candle.

• Dark as my path may seem to others, I carry a magic light in my heart. Faith, the spiritual strong searchlight, illumines the way, and although sinister doubts lurk in the shadow, I walk unafraid toward the enchanted wood where the foliage is always green, where joy abides, where nightingales nest and sing, and where life and death are one in the presence of the Lord.  -  Helen Keller

• Great faith is not the faith that walks always in the light and knows no darkness, but the faith that perseveres in spite of God’s seeming silences.

• No problem is ever as dark when you have a friend to face it with you.

Keep on shining
Rickey Moore