The Firefly who Dared to be Different

(a bedtime story for the kids during rainy nights..."

One cold rainy night, in the middle of San Marcelino forest, a firefly named “Lumen” was braving the gusty wind and rain, flying towards Homer, a big rubber tree. With his fellow fireflies, their job was to light up big Homer. But that night, Lumen was alone.

When Lumen arrived at the rubber tree, Homer was surprised to see Lumen alone.

“Where are the other fireflies?” Homer asked. “Are they coming to provide light for me in this rainy night?”

“Oh, I’m really sorry. The other fireflies have decided to stay home until the rain stops.” Lumen answered.

“Then why are you here?” Homer wondered.

Lumen replied, “I’m a firefly. It is my duty to light you up during the night. I cannot leave you alone in this dreary rainy night. I don’t care if I’m alone tonight.”

Homer was touched, but the other trees in the forest laughed and ridiculed Lumen: “Can a small firefly like you provide enough light to big Homer? It’s impossible!”
But Lumen answered: “It is true. I cannot provide enough light for Homer. I don’t care. I just want to share my own little light and nobody can stop me. My light is nothing in this darkness but at least I’m giving my best!”

The trees were dumbfounded and admired Lumen as the little firefly flew around Homer, emitting small warm light.

For the next three rainy nights that followed, Lumen was all alone with Homer.
But on the fourth day, there were two fireflies.

Then on the fifth day, five fireflies.
On the sixth, fifty.
And on the seventh day, thousands of fireflies … giving light to Homer and to the entire San Marcelino forest.

It all began when a small but brave firefly dared himself to be different.


- Wilfredo M. Samson,SJ