Last weekend, I attended Liên Đoàn Thánh Gia’s 1st Tĩnh Huấn Huynh Trưởng. I carpooled with two other Huynh Trưởngs in my Đoàn and we survived a minor car accident. When we arrived, they were just finishing the “Liên Đoàn vision & plan” presentation.
I really needed to use the restroom and the other female Huynh Trưởngs pointed me to the female dorms and restrooms through another door. I quickly finished my business and as I was walking towards the door back to the dorms, the lights suddenly turned off and I could not see a thing. It was pitched black and although I remembered how far I was from the doorknob before the lights went out, I still felt scared. It was cold and I knew everyone else was in the Chapel for the next activity. I tried to remain calm, but I still let out a scream as I opened the door to the dorms and nearly ran into the room. (Yes, I am afraid of the dark for no reason) As soon I screamed and entered the dorms, I heard a startled male voice, “Oh! I’m sorry!” I looked around, confused, and saw my friend hunched over, attempting to light two candles on the floor. We exchanged a few words, but he didn’t get up until one of the candles were lit. When he got up, he walked over to turn off the lights.
That single candle shined brightly in the room.
After a few seconds, he turned the lights back on and tried lighting up the second candle. Then, he reminded me that everyone else was in the Chapel for the next activity and so I hurried over.
For the few seconds that the single candle lit up the room, my thoughts and worries calmed down. I finally heard silence for the first time in a long time.
For some reason, I felt as if that single candle represented hope in the darkness inside my heart. That single candle was a friend. And when he tried to light up the other candle, I felt as if he was trying to give me hope, so that I can also shine brightly in the dark. It was as if he was trying to help me.
The funny thing was that the Huynh Trưởng lighting up the candles is my friend. And he was the one who has helped me unknowingly, multiple times.
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