Choosing Darkness

       A gentleman in one of the Southern States discovered a white owl's nest, which was in a hole of a leaning dead palm, overhanging the river. He watched the growth of the birds until he considered them old enough to move. He then transferred them from the nest to a box, and they became great pets. They were always timid, however, and desired to hide during the day. All day long they would sit quietly in the darkest place they could find, making no sound except when approached, when a sharp snapping of their beaks announced that they wished no intruders. To turn them out of their box in daytime meant a quick return to it. At night, however, they were in their element. When turned loose, they walked around, flapped their wings, came up and took food from the hand, drank water from a spoon, and seemed to be in the greatest spirits. Men with evil thoughts and purposes are like these owls, in that they choose the darkness rather than the light, desiring to cover up their evil ways. It is a great thing to so live, even in the nesting-place of one's own imagination, that the sunshine is the natural and welcome atmosphere of the soul.

"And this the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loveed darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3: 19-21