“Keep thy face to the light, and the shadows of doubt fall FAR behind.”
(Reading 333-1)
This counsel—to keep one’s face to the light in times of trouble and doubt—was repeated in multiple Cayce readings.
Edgar Cayce faced soul-searing times of trouble, doubt and discouragement. His first-born son died. He was arrested twice. The hospital he had worked so hard to create was forced to close. People who had been his friends and co-workers turned against him and took him to court… At times he was profoundly depressed—but the readings urged him to find the light, not just for himself, but because of the light he could bring to others.
Here’s an excerpt from a reading given for the Glad Helpers Prayer group, of which Cayce was a member. At the end of a group reading, messages were given for the individuals in the group and this message was specifically for Edgar Cayce:
“Keep thy face to the light, my son, that those who behold thy going in, thine coming out, may be strengthened by the brightness even of thy countenance; may it show, through the thoughts that are kept there, that thy presence is seeking His presence day by day.”
(Reading 281-17)
How was he told to keep his face to the light? By the thoughts that he held and by seeking the presence of the Divine daily.
And how else did the readings say to keep to the light? By fellowship with others—showing mercy, love and grace to others.
The first reading above, 254-101 warned that if we put our trust entirely in material things, which can sometimes be “deceitful,” as the reading puts it, we are likely to find “disappointments and fears and heartaches.” Trust in the light of God will not prevent difficulties in life, but it will show us the way through them.
Keeping your face to the light does not mean denying the pain and trouble we face in life—what is sometimes called “toxic positivity.” It means keeping the faith while facing our challenges—acknowledging the pain but remembering that there’s a purpose in our being here. We can be a light for others. Even in small ways. We never know how important a word of kindness may be in the life of someone else who is struggling.
“While problems arise, they have made thee strong. Be not weary, then, in well-doing. For, thou hast set thy foot on the path. Keep thy face to the light of truth in the Christ, and the shadows will fall farther and farther behind—as ye approach that throne of mercy, as ye show mercy; of love, as ye show love; of grace, as ye show and manifest grace in thy dealings with thy fellow man.”
(Reading 2559-1)
