The Nomastery

The Hobbles were a tribe of small, busy creatures who lived in a secluded valley. On the mountains surrounding them were dark trees on dense slopes. On the valley floor, the Hobbles farmed and raised their animals, and settled in their villages and towns.

Each morning the sun would rise over the trees and give light to the Hobbles. It gave life to their crops and allowed the Hobbles to do their work and watch out for each other. After a sun-lit day, the Hobbles rested after their labour until the following sunrise.

But one day, the sun did not rise. This confused the Hobbles, but being an industrious and proud people, they decided to keep working and living without the sun. But soon, their crops and the products of their labours withered and failed. In the darkness the Hobbles would constantly bump into each other and step on their toes. And without a sunrise or sunset, they did not know when to sleep or wake, and so some Hobbles worked while others tried to rest. All of this created much conflict and discontent amongst the peaceful Hobbles.

So the Hobbles decided that they needed to bring back the light of the sun. Some of the Hobbles thought that the sun had simply forgotten to rise. So they gathered in large numbers across the valley and cried out loudly, beckoning the sun to rise again. But they remained part of the darkness, and all their crying achieved was to irritate sleeping Hobbles.

Some of the cleverest Hobbles thought that if the sun would not return, that they would find a new way to bring light to the valley. The Great Light. This was a noble idea, and many Hobbles gathered to help. But although they had the means to bring light to the valley, the soon started arguing about the best way to do it. Some wanted the light to be built high up on the valley wall, some wanted it on the floor. Others didn’t want it next to their property. And others debated what hours it should run, and who should own it. And deep down everybody knew that this couldn’t bring light to all people, all of the time…

Some courageous and loving Hobbles decided to not wait for the Great Light. They had torches of their own which burned brightly, and they committed to take their lights to the darkest corners of the valley to bring light to the people. And so they did, and those who received the light were very thankful, as it brought comfort and rescue to them. But the workers were few, and soon they were exhausted as they tried to reach as many people with their torches as possible. But the darkness was thick, and as soon as a light moved on, the darkness soon returned, bringing suffering and conflict with it. The brave Hobbles continued despite all odds, and their light was esteemed and respected by all Hobbles who saw them, but it could not defeat the darkness.

A small Hobble child saw these efforts around her and was amazed. She felt unworthy and unable to help with these great endeavours. But she looked at what she did have. She had a candle. And so she lit it. It’s light was small, but it grew in strength and brought light to her and those who she met in her day, and helped them. She soon realised that others that she met had candles, or torches, or lamps, or other things that would burn and carry the light. So she used her flame to light theirs. In turn, they brought light to the others in their lives, and lit their own flames. No one went out of their way to spread the light, but it naturally grew as Hobble met Hobble and met their need. Others, seeing the light, came to receive it and carry it on. Even those who did not have a flame of their own were bathed in the light of the flames around them. And when one the Hobbles’ flames went out, there were many around to re-light it.

And soon the valley was ablaze with the lights of the Hobbles as it evaporated the darkness to the ends of the valley, and brought light to the life of every Hobble that lived.

And on that day, the sun returned.