A lantern is a modest piece of magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It does not defeat the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It does not tell you where to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It simply makes a little more of the world visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially when you are lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there is a temptation to ask the lantern for more than it can give.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which road is correct?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who can I trust?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will this work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lantern has no answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It only shows you what is close enough to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mage has to choose what to do with that information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is sometimes disappointing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want our tools to make our decisions for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give me the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give me the spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell me the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But a tool that makes every decision for you is not a lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a leash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of illumination is not obedience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see the loose stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now you can step around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see the open door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now you can decide whether to enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see the person standing quietly at the edge of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now you can decide whether to approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeing does not tell you what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gives you more to work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is why knowledge and wisdom are not the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowledge tells you what is there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wisdom begins asking what to do about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And sometimes wisdom says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not every problem requires intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not every mystery needs solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not every person needs saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not every argument needs winning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mage learns to resist the temptation to wave the lantern at everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some things can remain in shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some things are not yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some doors are not yours to open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some wounds are not yours to fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lantern illuminates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mage chooses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is the spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fancy Dust has requested a lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We declined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fancy Dust is already visible from orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps this is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So carry the light carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notice what is actually there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And when the world becomes visible\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n
remember that visibility is not a command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You still have to choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That part is yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A lantern is a modest piece of magic. It does not defeat the darkness. It does not tell you where to go. It simply makes a little more of the world visible. This is useful. Especially when you are lost. But there is a temptation to ask the lantern for more than it can give. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n