Night Vision

My husband says that I can see like a cat.
Let me clarify.
I can see well in a dark room.
He will inevitably stub his toe.

When he told me that I can see like a cat, I had to do some research.
I had to discover if it was true that cats see better at night than humans.
I had to see why I can maneuver around a dark room but my husband cannot.
I never really thought about it before.

Cats’ nocturnal vision is far superior to that of humans, however, they can’t see in total darkness. They can see clearly with only one-sixth of the illumination we need to see, so when you’re trying to read that newspaper at twilight, ask your cat for help! In the feline, the muscles of the iris surrounding the pupils are constructed in a way that allows the eye to narrow to a vertical slit in bright light and to open fully in very dim light to allow maximum illumination.

In addition, a reflective layer behind the cat’s retina called the tapetum lucidum reflects incoming light and bounces it back off the cones, making more use of the existing light. The tapetum is probably responsible for the shiny green orbs you see when a small amount of light hits a cat’s eyes at night. (About.com; October 21, 2016)

When my husband goes to bed before me, I try to be considerate when I enter the room.
I can walk around in the dark, making my way over to our closet.
I will put on the closet light and allow that to illuminate my path.
Even coming down the backstairs in the dark is possible because I count the number of steps.

There are thirteen steps and number fourteen is the floor.
Counting allows me to know how much farther I have to go.
Of course, I have my phone flashlight for illumination if I need it.
It is nice to know; however, that I can walk around safely with minimal light.

If my husband comes to bed after me, he needs to put on the light.
Not the main light, but our bathroom light, which still shines into our room.
After stubbing his toe one too many times, turning on a light became a necessity for him.
After hitting his knee against the bedpost much too often, he labeled my vision as feline.

It was not an insult.
It was a remark.
It was an attempt to define something he cannot do.
It was an explanation for something that baffles him.

I could say that I have good night vision because I ate a lot of carrots.
I remember my mother telling me that carrots are good for your eyes.
I could say that being able to see in the dark is a woman thing.
I needed to do some research on that assumption as well.

Men are better able to spot details in moving objects.
Women have better peripheral vision.
Women are better able to distinguish various shades of a color than men.
Women are better able to see in the dark.

There are always exceptions, but my husband was correct in his assumption.
I did see like a cat at night.
Now with daylight savings time upon us, the mornings are much darker.
My husband needs to have the light on in order to see.

I have to be considerate.
There is no room for superiority just because I can see in the dark better than my husband.
In fact, I have a secret.
I have a way by which I have learned to maneuver in the dark.

I look towards the light.

That is not rocket science but it is my secret.
I will look towards whatever light is available to me in order to see.
I will rely on moonlight or a light from the hallway shining underneath the door.
I will look towards the green signal light on the grounded adapter plug.

Even that small amount of light allows me to see.
That is what I always taught my children to do when the power went out.
Sometimes the dark was so dark, it could be felt.
Those were the times they kept a little flashlight with them in their bed.

I would turn the flashlight on then off while I was standing there with them.
Just knowing that they were able to dispel the darkness a bit, gave them peace.
When the moon was visible, I would open their blinds.
Look towards the light, I would tell them.

I wanted them to know there was always a bit of light that they could focus on.
There was always a bit of light that allowed them to see the way in front of them.
The darkness is a scary place for a child.
Even the tiniest amount of light gives them comfort.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

Verses from God’s Word comfort me.
I taught them to my children.
God’s Word illuminates our path; God’s Spirit directs us as we journey.
A great Light has dawned; the Light of the World has come; there is no fear.

There is no fear.
We do not walk in darkness.
We do not walk alone.
We have the light of God’s Word and the Light of the world by our side.

That is comforting.
The light may be just a speck in the beginning.
However, as we grow in Christ and in His Word, the light of faith brightens.
As we walk with the Light our path is illuminated and the darkness is dispelled.

One lit match dispels the darkness in a room.
Moonlight shining through the window illuminates our path.
The small green signal light of an adapter plug can light our way.
Only the Light of the world and the light of His Word dispels the darkness completely.

Batteries need to be replaced in flashlights.
Even green signal lights in adapter plugs go off in a power outage.
We need something that we can count on for our illumination.
We need a Light that will never go out.

We need Jesus.
He is our Light.
His Word is our guide.
Do not fear.