Dream of Impending Darkness Upon the Land

There is an uneasiness that is creeping over my soul.   I feel a curtain is being pulled shut.  What was left of the light is being blocked by something thick and oppressive.  I see swarms of what appear to huge flying insects, each carrying something that looks like a case under their arm.  They are flying in formation and the closer they get the louder the buzz becomes.

As they approach the shore, they split and go different directions.  Some to the north and some to the south.  Yet, in spite of splitting, they are as numerous as before.  As they cover the sky, the day becomes dark as night.  They literally block the light of the sun. 

Screams are heard as the first of these demons lands and disrupts the entire landscape of a town.  All goes haywire and nothing works as it was designed.  People panic for there is no day.  A massive cloud hovers over the town and then moves on.  This process is repeated over and over again around the country.  One town after another is thrust into darkness and then seemingly loses its ability to function.

There is a numbness spreading over the land.  A type of resolution that there is nothing that can be done to hinder or stop this plague.  At the back of the swarm there is the faint light of dawn but the light is distorted and things are not as they appear.  There is no longer the sharp lines of demarcation between black and white.  Gray is the predominant color and haziness is the predominant view.

No one knows what has just happened, although everyone knows something of profound importance just did.  Confidence has been replaced by doubt and boldness with fear.  The mighty have been brought back to earth and the poor have been squashed beyond recognition.  The land is barren and the shelves are bare.  The markets are empty and the roads are untraveled.  There is a hush that lies over the land that is missing all sounds of industry and traffic.  Commerce has ceased and all stay huddled in their abodes.

What has happened, a few dare ask, as they tenderly walk outside in the murky twilight.  Where are the lights, the roar of big trucks, and planes taking off and trains roaring down the tracks?  Where are the kids normally yelling and screaming?   Where are the sirens of police and ambulances and fire trucks going about to save people’s lives?  

What has gone here and what is to happen.  There is no electricity, no radio and no television or computers.  Even the dogs have ceased to bark and nowhere is found the sound of life.  People are still there for the hushed sounds of whispers can be heard coming from dark houses and even darker buildings.  No one wants to move lest they be discovered by a foe they do not know.  No one can call for help.  No one is injured or trapped in demolished buildings or heaps of rubble.

Finally a baby’s cry breaks the silence.  Then there is another and another.  Cries can now be heard erupting from all over the town.  Wailing and moaning as if people were crushed and in intense pain.  Yet, there is no physical trauma and nothing to account for the cries filled with pain and sorrow. 

People are awakening to the stark reality that life as they knew it was over.  Whatever had blown through was so devastating it demolished all that everyone had built their lives upon.  Nothing worked, no running water, no air conditioner, no vehicles, no computers, to telephones and no light.  As the sun starts to set, the reality of the impending total darkness starts to settle in.  The wails turn to screams as countless people must confront their worst nightmare; a night with no light.

Into the town ride messengers of the most High God delivering a message directly from Him.  The message is not what anyone wants to hear.  The message is one of repentance and turning to the truth and not that all will be well.  The people riot and rip the messengers off their horses and kill them.  They wanted a message that the lights would be turned back on shortly and heard just the opposite. 

Screams pierce the night air as helpless women are raped in their homes with no one to protect them.  Houses across the town are pillaged by robbers who take everything of value with no one to stop them.  Fights erupt as people trip over others, unable to see them lying in the streets.  There is no reason and no comfort to be found.  Only gloom and dismay hangs over the town.

After what seemed like thirty hours of night, the sun did come up, but not as they expected.  It lacked the brilliance they were used to.  It was not cloudy, but the sun looked like it was shrouded in clouds.  There was not the heat that usually came with the sunrise.  Everyone was cold, tired and scared.

There was no news for there was no media.  There was no way to find out what had happened or if it were going to get better or worse.  Lack of knowledge aroused even greater frustration and fear.  Panic set in as people literally went insane. 

The sick soon died for lack of medicine.  The weak soon died for lack of food.  The infirm soon went crazy unable to cope.  The ruthless soon went on rampages fulfilling every evil desire they ever imagined.  There was no order and there was no compassion.  Every man was for himself and every man sought to destroy his neighbor before he was destroyed.