There were once four travelers walking through a dark forest. Night had fallen, and with every step they felt more lost, more unsure of the way back to the main road. They looked at one another with worry in their eyes and asked silently, How did we end up here? How will we ever find the light again?

As they wandered, a small group of gentle forest gnomes appeared. One stepped forward and said,

“Follow us. Come to the fire. When you dance around the fire, you will remember the way to the light.”

The travelers hesitated. They did not know if the gnomes could be trusted or if the fire was truly the answer. But the gnomes’ faces were sincere, their eyes filled with kindness. Sensing authenticity, the travelers followed.

When they reached the fire, the gnomes invited them to dance. It was not a common dance, nor was the song familiar. It was a dance of freedom and joy. As the travelers moved around the flames, their hearts grew lighter, and their vision clearer.

Then they understood: the fire had been there all along. They simply needed to take a spark from it—a small flame—to guide them back to the main path.

So each traveler took a little flame, and with singing and renewed courage, they walked together toward the path of light. From afar, the gnomes watched with quiet joy, knowing that their small invitation had led the travelers out of confusion and back into clarity.

And so it is with us:

When we feel lost in our own forests of doubt and uncertainty, sometimes all we need is a small spark, an act of kindness, a moment of joy, a word of truth, to guide us back to the light, a light we forgot was already there, ALWAYS THERE!

BW