NOCTURNAL WANDERINGS

Bettie! Bettie! Bettie!

It was 10:00 PM when my neighbor heard the loud shouts coming from her driveway. She was busy in her computer room preparing for her next class. She could hear a voice outside but couldn’t see anything from her window. The voice never stopped and although she didn’t really want to venture outside, she knew that she had to see what was happening. She had to be sure that no one was hurt. She bravely turned on the porch light and to her surprise she saw my husband lying flat on his back and yelling in pain. It took her a while to get him on his feet and she did the best she could to just let him sit down and rest. But the pain along his ribs was sharp and the sensations along his rib cage didn’t stop. He eventually had to go to the emergency room because the pain was so intense. But why had the fall occurred in the first place? He fell because he had tried to walk in the night without a flashlight or anything else to show him the way. He forgot about the raised part of the driveway and stumbled and fell.

Looking at the night opens our eyes to a whole different scenario. The night can be foggy, illuminated by the moon and stars or can be what most people term “pitch black.” The fog makes it hard to see anything clearly and caution has to be used to avoid accidents. The light of the moon and stars can be bright and easily seen or partially obscured by a cloud cover. The term “pitch black” is just what it sounds like. The night is black with no illumination and even seeing something directly in front of you is impossible without some light source.

At night most of nature is asleep and at rest. Others like the owl, raccoon, bat, skunks, moths and cockroaches roam easily about. Specially developed eyes help most nocturnal animals to see in the night. Some people really enjoy the night and seem to be adapted to sleeping during the day and working at night. Night may be their most productive time simply because it is quiet and most people are asleep. For most of us we have to have some type of light to guide us through the darkness and give us the direction we need. It may be as simple as a flashlight or lantern but whatever we use is to give us the light we need to see.

The night itself can be glowing with color from several sources. A fireworks display shows a variety of colors with different patterns in the sky. Different sports games use lights to illuminate the playing field and to help spectators see the action. Parking lots are lit so that people coming or going to work can easily find their vehicle. Businesses use bright lights to entice people to stop and be entertained. Lightning and fire both light up the sky with a glow all their own.

For Christians Jesus is the Light of the World. He is the person who shows us the pathway to take in life. His light shines into the dark corners of our heart and brings them to our attention. We have a choice to make. Ignore the tugging of our heart and push the Lord away or acknowledge the tugging of our heart and open our life fully to God. Although there are many references throughout the Bible to light, the passage in Isaiah 2:5 “Come let us walk in the light of the Lord” seems to say it as clearly as any other passage. We are to come to Him and He will give us the light. We are not to try to do things our own way and then hope that He will give us light to keep from stumbling. We have to come to Him first. Once we accept Him as our inner guide we have the light within us and a light that should shine outward towards others.

There are people outside the realm of Christ that are still stumbling along, not knowing exactly which direction they are headed. They need to have the light of Jesus shining in them. That’s where we who are Christians need to be willing to take a part. If we will take the time to talk and listen to others and their problems, we just may have an insight in the best way to help them. If they do not have the light of Christ living within them, then we who do have the light of Christ in our lives need to give them guidance. Show them the Light that can change their direction and take them along a straight path, a path where if they should stumble and fall, they have someone who can always pick them up and get them back on course. Let the radiance of His face shine into their world and take them on a path that is no longer obscured with darkness. Matthew 5:16 KJV