All I could see through the screen of our newly purchased tent was pure darkness. My young son and I huddled together, searching for sleep after a long day of outdoor activities. Our night under the stars would finish off this mother/son adventure, but the sweltering Texas heat was just too much.
I needed to escape from our two-person unit that was really only big enough for one. I just had a little problem. It was dark out there.
At only 7-years-old, the exhilarating events of the day wore him out. Hiking, horseback riding, and making crafts all took their toll. Now, my camper slept soundly to the noises of nature. I needed a short reprieve in the middle of the night, and thankfully I spotted another boy-mom making her way out of her tent.
My camping skills were lackluster at best, but you’d think I’d at least know to keep a lantern on hand for such an occasion. Unfortunately, I didn’t. So I hustled over close to my fellow scouting mom and stood near her lantern. In the darkness of the woods, I knew the importance of standing near the light.
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” John 1:5 NLT
As a young child, I remember pitching a tent in my own backyard with neighborhood friends. I recall holding our flashlights up toward the roof, making shadow animals with our hands. Those long summer nights held such sweet memories of laughter and friendship. We didn’t worry about a thing.
These are the same memories I hoped to pass along to my kids. But things aren’t the same as they were back then.
The older I get, the more I become painfully aware of the turmoil of this world. I sense the shadows of darkness and feel overwhelmed by one disturbing news story after another.
Will it ever end? My mind agonizes. I can’t even fathom why some things happen. But through the darkness and despair I see all around us, God’s Word gives me the answer for the reprieve I need.
When we stay close to the light, we find hope – even in the darkness.
