You Don’t Have To Settle For Second Best!

Photo by Magnus S

Have you ever seen fire embers on a dark night? They glow steadily and the closer you get, the brighter they shine. Wondered why that ember is so powerful? It is surrounded by warm coals; the heat from the others keeps it burning brightly. As you walk towards that golden flame, the warmth reaches out to you. The closer you get, the warmer you become till you are pleasantly comfortable and mellow. You blend in with the setting as a veil of peace wraps your mind, body and soul. Ah…tranquillity!

When you face the light or walk close to the light, your path gets illuminated. This is an inevitable fact. Similarly, when you turn around to face the dark, it shrouds you and you can’t seem to find your way.

Light cannot be consumed by darkness, no matter how small the flame. The property of light is to shine. On the contrary, the dark does not give light; it is not expected to give light. By nature, it has to remain dark. When you are in the dark, you grope and may stumble. You are not sure-footed or confident because you are at the mercy of your surroundings. However, when you turn to the light, you immediately have a change of perception. Your confidence rises; you step forward boldly towards that light.

Why are cinemas dark? Your surroundings are dimmed so that you cannot focus on anything besides what will soon be projected in front of you. As you are boxed in and your eyes are ‘conditioned’ to your surroundings, that’s when the sound filters in and the screen is turned on. Wonder why certain venues are dimmed? The same set of logic applies.

Light is never afraid of darkness because it knows that the darkness cannot put it out. A candle in the cave is like a glowing ember. Just one ember is enough to start a fire. Light is a source of power; it brings hope and life to any despairing situation. Since the property of light is to illuminate, it is not surprising, in this dark world, people search for the source that can illuminate their path. Nobody wants to follow someone going into a dark pit.

There are some people who attract and some people who repel. Like an ember in a dark night, people with that special light in them, automatically attract others. Their life speaks louder than their words. John 8:12 (ESV) says, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Do you have the light of life burning in your soul?  John 10:10 (NAS) say, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” This Christmas, may the light of God illuminate your whole being! ◊

Linda Pearl