Walking In Darkness

My husband cannot see in the dark.
I do not mean he is unable to drive at night.
I simply mean that he cannot walk around a dark room without bumping into things.
He teases me that I must have cat eyes, since I can see in the dark quite easily.

I guess it must have been all those carrots my mother made me eat when I was a girl.
Carrots are good for your eyes, she used to say to me.
I have no idea if that was true.
Perhaps it was, since walking in the dark is not a problem for me.

I do not have super powers.
I do not have X-ray vision.
I simply follow one rule.
Walk towards the light.

I have tried to explain that to my husband.
He just gives me a blank stare.
What light do you see in our room? He asks me.
The light from the alarm clock, I answer him.

He does not understand.
The red numbers on the digital display are reflected in a Wyeth painting across the room.
I focus my eyes on that little bit of red light.
I can walk with ease.

I taught my children to do the same thing.
Children are terribly afraid when the power goes out.
It was always an interesting night when their rooms were pitch black.
I knew that there would be no sleep for anyone unless I came up with a plan.

I would open their blinds.
I would sit with them on the side of their bed.
Look towards the light, I told them.
What light? They would always ask.

Wait for it, I would say as we sat in silence.
I see it, they inevitably would say a minute later.
Often, it was simply the light of the moon that shone through their window.
Sometimes, it was the strobe effect of the lightning flashing in the sky.

No matter the source, after their eyes adjusted, they found some light to comfort them.
That little bit of light was enough to dispel the darkness.
I would leave their door open and I would go back to bed.
They all had flashlights but I encouraged them to use them only if necessary.

It was a good lesson.
It was something I practiced myself.
I have also learned to count steps.
I know that when I count to 14, I have reached the end of our staircases.

I know each room in my house.
I know where the furniture is placed.
If I wait and get my bearings, I can maneuver around the room.
There are those nights, when the power goes out, that the darkness can be felt.

Those are the nights that are the scariest for children.
Those are the nights that are not my favorite either.
No matter what strategy I may use, there is a darkness that cannot be penetrated.
There is a darkness that comes over us at times that can be felt.

The Puritans called it, the dark night of the soul.
There is a darkness that happens in each of our lives from time to time.
Sometimes, the source can be pinpointed.
Sometimes, we have no idea where the darkness is coming from.

Sometimes, our tried and true strategies work.
Sometimes, they do not help at all.
Either we have experienced that darkness or we know someone who has experienced it.
It is not something that can be resolved by simply pulling up your boot straps.

The way out of that kind of darkness is through a Person.
The Lord Jesus is the Way.
Jesus will not leave us alone in that wilderness place.
Jesus will always find you; you just stay still.

I read a quote once that said: Humans are the only ones, who when lost, run faster.
Standing still to us, who are always on the move, seems ineffective.
Standing still and waiting for the Lord to lead you out is the only way.
He will find you; He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine for the one.

I thought of all of this a while back and found myself writing a poem.
A few lines captured my thoughts.
Those few lines pointed to the Way.
Jesus is the only One who can take our hand and lead us into the Light.

In my darkest hour, You are there.
In my darkest minute, You brush past me like a whisper.
In my darkest second, when I fumble for a light, You shine.
Even the darkness isn’t dark to You.
You are Light.
You are Life.
The darkness will never envelop me because You illuminate all the dark places.
Once I see them as You see them, I am not afraid.

The Way out.
The Way through.
The Way.
Jesus.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)