The Absence of Light ~

Darkness, in contrast with brightness, is a relative absence of visible light.

Yesterday our power went off at 3:45 in the afternoon and was still off at 11P.M. when I went to bed.

Power out from Yuma Arizona, parts of Mexico, the southern tip of California, San Diego County, up as far as Anaheim.  Yes even the happiest place on earth, Disneyland went dark.

We had candles burning, a generator running  the refrigerator and the television for news reports 

and of course the football game:-)

We had no use of our land lines and for most of the afternoon and night no cell phone service with the exception of texting.

Our only use of the internet was those of us that could access it via our cell phones.  Our cable companies without power and related problems meant no computer use.

As I looked out my windows I saw black, I mean real darkness. It was so incredibly quite, no air traffic, no traffic on the freeways nor could it be heard of on the surface streets.  A few brave souls attempted to get to markets to buy ice in the hopes of saving  refrigerated items and frozen foods.

I realized that many families were likely actually talking to one another this night. 

I could hear families out in their yards trying to escape the heat of their homes, homes lacking air conditioning, fans and LIGHT.  

I could hear the quite conversations throughout the neighborhood, a neighborhood in darkness, realizing whats been there all along.....eachother.

No distractions, nothing calling for there attention other than the absence of light. Nothing preventing or interfering with them reaching each other, it was, this is all we got conversation.

In the darkness they could hear.....

This could be a good thing.

This world in contrast with God, also an absence of visible light.

That is God, my light, not visible, 

but I know He is there. 

So if we can't see light do we still believe it's there?  

As a believer I have a responsibility to be a light unto the world. 

Others should be able to see Him through how I live my life.

I am to be a reflection of Him, His love, His way.

Can our presence do much good in this world?

Is it a wasted effort in a world that shrugs off even the idea of Him? 

Even if on occasion, 

in a time of tragedy they ask us to pray,  and they themselves likely asking for God to help. 

The same God they don't want to hear about ?

It is recorded in our first history book, the Bible; 

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad; for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:10-12)

  The Lord went on to tell a handful of Palestinian peasants (all godly servants in every generation) that their influence would be nothing short of remarkable. 

They would be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." 

So, the influence of His servants in societies presence would be 

as significant as salt on food and as light on darkness. 

Without our influence, Christians, would the world realize our absence?

They world may not admit it, but I believe that we would be missed

Society needs both salt and light. 

God has called us to be light-and-salt servants 

I want to be a reflection of Him....kind, humble, loving, forgiving, helpful, courteous,

and the list goes on. Though we are far from perfect ,to be a light to others, an avenue to lead them out of the darkness they may be in.

For many in the darkness, in the darkest of times, it's a time of financial worry, jobs and homes being lost on top of many other day to day worries this economy brings.

  A giant sense of hopelessness, a very, very lonely place.

For me it's a hope that those in the darkness know, that in the quite of your mind, body and soul, even with the distractions of the world, there is a God who can hear your voice.

He is the light that will show you the way out of the darkness.

So, the darkness may be an absence of visible light .

What is always present, always available in a world that has lost its power,

is He, the Power and the light.

This is what echos from my heart.........