Page 19 - NewsandViews 2023 whole publication

Journal extract I Stuart Yates

Knowlton Church
Stuart Yates

There are places which are filled with wondrous light, light which carries within its rays a most gentle
peace and tranquillity. There are places too which are moonless black, full of choking stale air. But the
places light and dark are at the extremes of the realm, even though each can in its turn temporarily hold
the centre. The most well-trodden, familiar, spots are neither light nor dark. Some are quite spacious
and well-lit; others are gloomy and disquieting. Yet others have a grey sameness that depresses.

We know and accept that we are afraid of the dark, so it is natural to avoid the lightless areas. Yet we
seem to fear the light also and only step into those gentle groves by chance, rarely seeking them. Perhaps
we are afraid that the light will dim with familiarity and the golden shade will fade to grey.

Knowlton Church
Stuart Yates

Perhaps we know also that the light and dark places must be given their full measure of attention so that
in lingering in gentleness we must also struggle in pain. So we opt for the middle way, where grey sun
and grey moon are almost indistinguishable.

Yet this dullness can never be acceptable. Not to anyone who has ventured into the shadowless realm,
however briefly.

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