We Got Light!

As I write this morning, we are fully enfolded in the garments of autumn. As if to dispel any illusion to the contrary, mid-October brought us a fully autumnal wind storm yesterday, plunging many local communities into darkness as power outages spread across the region.

At our home, we barely noticed. Our eldest daughter and our grandkids are visiting us, and when evening arrived, we simply drove to another town – one with lights – and had a nice, child-centric dinner. Afterward, we drove home, put a fire in the woodstove, lit the old lantern and a few candles and happily played with the grandchildren.

By now, you may have visions of a Norman Rockwell painting dancing in your head. A lovely fire, lantern and candlelight, children happily playing, grandparents doting. . . . Yeah, right.

It took all of maybe twenty minutes before I seriously needed a break from the tribulation playing out in my living room. Quietly, so that no one would notice, I slipped out the front door and edged along the walkway to the street. Without looking back I continued down the block and made my escape, shrouded by a welcoming and silent obscurity.

The darkness was nearly complete as I walked past houses and trees. I thought about how quiet, how still the world seemed without television, radios blasting, lights boring holes in the dark. I walked a long time, maybe two minutes, before turning back towards home. But just as I was turning, I noticed a strange phenomenon: a motion-light on a nearby home suddenly popped on. Then another light, and then another appeared, and while I walked, it seemed that as I passed each house, its lights would suddenly appear.

And I heard a still, small Voice within my heart: “You carry within you the Light of the world. Your presence in this dark and godless world will accomplish in hearts what you are seeing all around you. By your presence, with your passing, by your very appearing, you bring Light to those who dwell in darkness.”

Suddenly, Scripture appeared in my mind: You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).

As these words played in my mind, I was back at my front door. I walked into a room flooded with light and with happy children and with adults ready to go to bed. Someone shouted – a small person, I think – “Grandpa, we got light!” Oh, how I love to hear the obvious stated with such authority!

And I thought to myself, “how right you are sweet grand daughter: “We got Light!”

Blessings,
Greg