I get up very early every day because I am a morning person. I try very hard not to awaken my night owl husband, so I tiptoe around in the dark room, turning on the light in the attached bathroom and closing the door. When I leave the bathroom, I turn off that light and use the flashlight on my phone to find my way to the door and out of the room. At last! I am free to turn on lights and see exactly where I am going. The chores that I do I I the morning are so much easier to do in the light.

About ten days ago, we lost our electricity when Tropical Storm Michael passed through. Since we live in a very rural area, we ended up being without electricity for almost a week. Part of that time, we were in Maryland visiting family, but I know well the frustration of getting up every morning, grabbing a small lantern that we had purchased for just such an occasion as this, and stumbling around in the semi-darkness to find the things that I needed to feed our cat and to find something for me to eat that didn’t require dairy products. The little lantern only lit the space a few steps in front of me. I was so happy each day to see the sun, and so sad at the end of the day when it set. We could not use our phones because we could not charge them. We couldn’t use our electronic devices because we had no internet. The thing that I missed most was reading my electronic You Version of the Bible each day. I could still read my hard copy, but I couldn’t do my Bible plan and that was frustrating for me. I found that I really missed my devices and my connection with the online world. But mostly, I just missed light. I found myself constantly reaching for a light switch and then remembering that it would not respond to my touch. I never got used to the darkness.

God reminded me that I am a light in the dark world. There are so many reaching out for the comfort of the light switch, but they don’t know how to turn it on. They are totally unaware of the comfort and peace that can be found in God’s Word. So, while I was getting accustomed to living in the darkness for those days without power, there are millions of souls who are living without hope, in the darkness, and they have no chance of having light unless we show it to them. That is a big responsibility, but the way the world changes is one soul at a time, one light at a time. I am the light and I reach out and touch someone else and he/she becomes the light. Then, they touch someone else and they become a light to others. And so the light is spread. I have always been very shy, but I have prayed for God to give me opportunities to share with others. Yesterday, as we were in line at Wal-Mart, the elderly man in front of me bent over to tie his shoe, and that simple action seemed to be a struggle for him. When he straightened, I felt the Holy Spirit prod me to speak to him, so I talked to him about how well we are made by the Creator and he agreed with me. We chatted for a few minutes about God and His power and then he checked out, smiling and waving at me. At the checkout, I noticed that the young girl working looked tired, but she continued to do her job cheerfully. I complimented her on her hard work and told her that I appreciated her efforts. Then, I told her that I hoped that her day would be blessed. Just a little thing to say, but one that can make a big difference. She gave me a big smile and a thank you. No, I didn’t say the sinner’s prayer with anyone yesterday, but I shined a little light of hope for these two people and I know that God can use that light to help them through the day and I’m believing that if they are not yet saved that God will fulfill His plan for their lives. I was satisfied that I followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and did a little bit, just a tiny little word of encouragement becomes a light that dispels the darkness of discouragement over difficulty tying a shoe or having a whole line of customers with no end in sight. We are the light of the world. There is no reason why we cannot turn our switch on and shine it in the darkness; we don’t depend on a power company because our power comes from our Creator, the God of the Universe who wants us to shine His light into the darkness of the world, spreading hope wherever we go. “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!” I hope that you all will do likewise and be listening for the prodding of the Holy Spirit to shine your light.