The darkness of the world cannot swallow the glowing of one soul.
      -----Khalil Gibran

The sun will not peek above my horizon for another hour.   There is no moonlight to guide my way.  A few lonely stars blink an early greeting.  My hand-held lantern swings back and forth, spreading repetitive patterns of dark-light, dark-light.  I revel in how darkness always yields to light.

Each step renders me a constant predictable simplicity of light piercing darkness.  Simplicity. Even morning birdsongs chime the simplest of notes.  I read that trust is the great simplifier.  Simply absolute (and absolutely simple), darkness will always yield to light. 

                             I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.                                       In the world you will have tribulation. 
But take heart; have overcome the world.            
     ------John 16:33

You are not One. You are a Thousand. Just light your Lantern.
              – Rumi

The light from an occasional passerby reminds me I am not completely alone.  We raise our lanterns high in a silent greeting.  Light begets light.  If we are to have any hope for the future, those who have lanterns must pass them on to others. (Plato)

I end my walk each morning taking this shortcut behind our house.  The sun, now at the horizon, lights a warm lamp for me.  This phenomenon appears only in this brief moment of the day with sunrise beckoning like a knock at the door. 
I walk through its portal, and as quick as a thought, 
I know I am where I need to be.