Light in the Darkness

The weather is changing to fall. Cool mornings, warm days, cooling evenings after the sun goes down. Watermelons, tomatoes, and blueberries pass the baton to apples, squashes and pumpkins.The amount of light during the day is changing too. It is getting lighter later and darker sooner. While driving and riding my bike, I have noticed the difference lights on people and bikes and placements of them makes in their visibility.  I have joined a running group that meets on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. This past Tuesday was the first time it was required to wear reflection or lights.

To make it fun, there was a contest of who could be the brightest. I should have taken a photo, but didn't. It was a close competition for first, second and third place. One runner even donned solar Christmas lights on top of her reflective vest. Another runner had highlighter neon yellow shoes, compression sleeves, shorts, shirt, and hat. Several had glow sticks attached. What did I where?  A simple reflective vest with LED lights.

Since we began the run while the sun was setting, we were quite the sight. 30ish runners all in reflective gear running near or through the college campus. When it was dark, the lights and reflective gear were evident. 

I have been thinking and trying not to think about work. Leave work at work so to speak. I am grateful, I get to leave the hospital each day after work. Walking out the glass revolving doors into the warm sun or rainy weather grants the opportunity to experience something bigger than myself. It is a reminder that the world is more than what is inside the hospital: the warm sun on my face, the humidity as I breathe the thick air, the messy and wetness of the rain, the attention required to negotiate around cars, people, bikers, traffic lights on the way home, the beauty of the sunsets. The patients do not have that privilege. Depending on their medical needs, they are confined to their beds, room, or the hospital. It is usually exciting for them to even get outside their room; even more exciting to go to the playroom. While the hospital is colorful with animals and volunteers providing activities, it is still unnatural light, linoleum floors, the same furniture in most rooms, controlled temperatures, definitely not home.

How does this relate to lights? The hospital can be a very dark place for the patients and their families. There are hopeful stories and good endings scatter throughout. Jesus did not come for the righteous or well. He came to minister and die for the sinners, broken, sick, and poor. He was/is light in the darkness. John 1 tells us about this:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life,and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Jesus said that we are the light of the world. We are to reflect Him. Some days I do that better than others. This idea continued while I purchased a rain/wind biking jacket to wear on my commute. The jacket has special reflective material everywhere on the outside. It is blue in the daylight. When light hits is in the dark, however, it glows brightly. The jacket did not change anything; the surroundings did. The unique feature is only seen in the darkness when something external interacts with it.

If we are Christians, we have the Holy Spirit in us always like the reflective material. We do not have to do anything ourselves to change from blue to glow. Often it is our own circumstances that change to difficult/darkness. Or we enter others "darkness" that the the reflection of Jesus's love is seen. Mother Teresa said " Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." A genuine smile brings light. Sometimes it is just sitting next to someone without saying a word, praying for them when geographically separate,  sending a letter or email, giving a listening ear, providing encouragement to fight for the next step. I pray that I will more and more by God's grace let my "color" fade and reflect Jesus.