I Got Used to It

Are any of you handy? I mean, able to change more than a lightbulb handy? Well, in our home, we are not innately handy. If something breaks or needs repair, we use our universal information resource, YouTube. There are videos for everything under the sun, from baking bread to replacing your bathroom ceiling.

Let's go back in time, about five weeks. One evening, while we were making dinner, the light above our kitchen island went off. We're experienced enough to know the first troubleshooting thought is, "it's a fuse ." So down to the basement to check the fuse box, with all certainty, we had blown a fuse. Nope. Not a fuse. I haven't ever lived in a home where the wiring suddenly went bad. Eventually, after more troubleshooting, we landed on the light fixture had died.

According to YouTube, the ballast had gone bad. This news didn't mean much to us other than we needed to replace the entire light fixture. For non-handy folks, that can be intimidating. Take the old fixture down, evaluate the wiring, and hope it's done correctly; install the new light, and don't electrocute yourself or burn the house down. To make a long story short, we did it, we ended up completing all the above steps, and hey, what do you know, the light actually works.

A couple of nights ago, I was starting to cook dinner. Chopping vegetables without the new light turned on. It was dusk and starting to get uncomfortably dim in the kitchen. However, I could function well enough to continue on. That was until John came into the kitchen, flipped on the light, and said, "why are you working in the dark? You have a light now". I answered, "I don't know. I guess I just got used to being in the dark."

---

Friends, we're not meant to live in the dark. Surprisingly, I had become accustomed to struggling to see in the dark in five weeks. I had a real solution within arm's length, and still, because I could function, I chose to stay in darkness. I could do what I needed, even if it took extra effort to get things done. Logically it didn't make any sense.

Does this sound familiar? Sometimes, we get stuck in the dark. We've had an unpleasant "life surprise," and we're plunged into darkness. The death of a loved one. Loss of employment. An alarming report from the doctor. It could be anything that throws you into a place where you question your choices, current circumstances, and future. Just-like-that, we're standing in the dark. If we are not careful, we will stay in that dark place longer than we need to.

We are not meant to hold on to darkness. On the contrary, those who know Christ and his redemption have a hope that allows us to be within arm's reach of the switch and turn on the light.

"Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." "

John 8:12 NLT https://my.bible.com/bible/116/JHN.8.12.NLT

We stand in the warm light of grace. This light of grace, in turn, allows us to reflect that light in the dark spaces and is light to others who may have grown comfortable working in the dark.

"In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:16 AMP https://my.bible.com/bible/1588/MAT.5.16.AMP

Friends, how are you doing? Are you operating in the dark because you have gotten used to it? Evaluate where you are. Reach out, flip the switch and stand in the light.

As always, be well-fed friends. Until next time.

John & Stephanie