Finding Flickering Fireflies

Did you grow up with fireflies? I didn’t, and neither did my wife. We’ve felt like we missed out when we’ve heard stories about seeing fireflies randomly in nature, or collecting fireflies in a jar and using them for a nightlight.

Years ago, when we were making a Bucket List of places we wanted to visit and things we wanted to see, we put fireflies on the list. Last weekend, we checked it off.

It turns out that fireflies are becoming less common due to light pollution and insecticides. So, I had to find a reliable way to see them in action. There are a couple of national parks that fit the bill. One park in South Carolina has a 10-day event every spring during which they kick everyone out and allow a limited number of people to see the fireflies.

Unfortunately, lots of people have the same idea, so the park holds an annual lottery to get a pass to the park at night. Out of 30,000 applicants, they choose roughy 10% of the entries.

I lost, but Chrissie won! Off to South Carolina we went.

Fireflies are interesting insects. The reason they flash is to attract a mate. The males flash at the females, and the females flash back. It is considered an “individual language of love.” This whole mating ritual takes place over a 2 to 3 week period, then they die.

There are lots of varieties, but Congaree National Park is one of only a handful of places in the world where a species of fireflies synchronizes their flashing lights. (Apparently, the girls like the boys who conform.)

An aside: I was thinking about how whoever was in charge of this specific species during the creation of the world was definitely thinking outside the box: “Hey, guys! I have this nutty idea to make a bug that lights up when it wants to get it on! Whatdya think?”

We headed to the park and waited until the sun went down. Not much was happening, but then I saw a tiny, white flash. Then another. As it got darker, the flashes appeared brighter and more frequent. Soon, we were surrounded by thousands of flickering lights bursting out of the darkness of the forest. As we walked along a path, some would fly above us and swirl around us.

It was magical.

One thing I hadn’t anticipated was that when these fireflies flashed they didn’t stay lit for more than a split-second. My previous interaction with fireflies consisted mostly of Disney cartoons, and those fireflies could stay lit for a long time.

As we walked through this ethereal scene, my brain immediately engaged my habit of searching for a message to share with you. My first thought was “How cool is this that God created these little guys!”

My second thought was that I know some people who seem aglow all the time. You see it in their faces, their eyes, and their actions. You can tell the Spirit is with them. Science will back me up on this: Studies show that people can actually spot LDS members with an astonishing 60% accuracy just by looking at a photograph of their face! (link) They call it the “Mormon Glow.”

I ask myself, when it comes to my faith, can you see it in my countenance? Am I “like a star, shining brightly?” Is it a steady glow, or is it more of an occasional flicker? My self-awareness tells me it is often the latter.

The Lord instructed us, “Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.” (D&C 115:5)

He didn’t add, “When we feel like it, or when we need something.”

Then-President Uchtdorf counseled us to be “Bearers of Light.” (link)

The Lord instructed us, “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.” (D&C 88:67)

That’s magical!