The Light We Throw

 "But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light,
it is made visible and clear; and where everything is
visible and clear there is light."
(Ephesians 5:13)

 Laura Ingalls Wilder at home on Rocky Ridge Farm
"Little House In The Ozarks"
Mansfield, Missouri
Picture courtesy/Pinterest

A wonderful way has been invented to transform a scene on the stage,
completely changing the apparent surroundings of the actors and their costumes
without moving an article.  The change is made in an instant. By arrangement
of light and colors, the scenes are so painted with a red light thrown upon them,
certain parts come into view while other parts remain invisible.

By changing a switch and throwing a blue light upon the scene, what has been
visible disappears and things unseen before appear, completely changing the
appearance of the stage.  This latest achievement of science is a good illustration
of a fact we all know but so easily forget or overlook-that things and persons
appear to us accordingly to the light we throw upon them from our own minds.

When we are down-hearted and discouraged, we speak of looking at the world
through blue glasses; nothing looks the same to us; our family and friends do not
appear the same; our home and work show in the darkest colors.  But when we
are happy, we see things in a brighter light and everything is transformed.

How unconsciously we judge others by the light that is within ourselves,
condemning or approving them by our own conception of right and wrong,
honor and dishonor!  We show by our judgment just what the light with us is.
What we see is always affected by the light in which we look at it so no
two persons see people and things alike. What we see and how we see
depends upon the nature of our light.

A quotation, the origin of which I have forgotten, lingers in my mind:

"You cannot believe in honor until you have achieved it. 
Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window
through which you must see the world."

🎂 Happy Birthday Laura Ingalls Wilder! 🎂

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Picture courtesy/Plains Humanities Alliance

University of Nebraska

"The Light We Throw"
(February 1922)
Laura Ingalls Wilder
(February 7, 1867-February 10, 1957)
Prolific American writer and
author of  the "Little House" series.

Essay taken from the book,
"Little House In The Ozarks
A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler
The Rediscovered Writings"
By Laura Ingalls Wilder
Edited by Stephen W. Hines
1991 Guideposts Edition