Walk in the Light

I've been getting up at 5:30 since August, but there aren't many mornings that I jump out of bed raring to go. The aroma of coffee wafts into my room and calls my name, most of the time too softly to make a real impact. This morning was no different. I finally kicked off the covers and stumbled in kitchen to pour myself a cup of ambition (turn up the speakers and you can sing along). I sat down in my spot, ready to hear what Jesus had to tell me. Reaching down beside the couch to pull out my church bag, I was shocked when the lamp fell over. The strap on my bag caught the cord, and the lamp bit the dust.

Did I mention it was really 4:30 in the morning? (Dreaded daylight savings time!)

I thought the bulb burned out, and grabbed another to replace it. Meanwhile, the ambition's getting cold. The light bulb didn't work. Seems the tumble did more damage than I thought. I put the bulb back in the lamp I stole borrowed it from, and moved that lamp to my spot. I'm a creature of habit, and if I'm going to listen to the Lord of the Universe so early in the morning, I'm going to sit in my spot to do it.

It was a lot of trouble for a little bit of light. At 4:30 in the morning (the government's not fooling me!).

Finally, I found my place in John and started reading. Obviously Jesus loves irony.

Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, "I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life."
~John 8:12(CEV)

Before I came to know Jesus, I was walking in the dark. I'd gotten pretty good at navigating, but I still stumbled. I didn't realize I could leave the darkness, that I didn't have to stay. Then I heard about the Light. My attempts to incorporate Him into my life were futile...much like putting the bulb into the broken lamp. Only surrender and the realization that I could not create my own light brought me to a place of true illumination.

Even after I found the Light, my heart would wander back to darkness. Unaccustomed to it, I fumbled my way through. I was walking with a flashlight in my hand, but never turning it on. I had it, but where was the benefit? Only in following Jesus, in spending time with Him daily, am I able to walk in the light and to clearly see where He wants to take me.

It's a wonderful sight to behold.