Awake in the Dark

Thunderstorms can be mighty scary things. They warn you of their approach from miles away, thundering like cannonfire, the noise increasing in volume until you're shaking as violently as your windows. The biggest thing I fear in thunderstorms is lightning. I hate lightning. If I even suspect lightning is near, I act like a thief walking near a police officer -- conceal and cover. Hail is not much fun, either, nor is straight-line winds. Flood waters aren't worth anticipation, nor are tornadoes. In fact, while thunderstorms can look pretty from afar, there ain't much that's pretty up close.

Especially when the lights go out.

Losing electricity in this electronic age is like a soldier losing his weapon on the field of battle. Suddenly, you feel very, very vulnerable and afraid. Things get mighty quiet during a power outage. Every time it happens, I am reminded of how used I am to the electronic noises and hums that fill my house. There's the fridge, the ceiling fans, the DVD player and cable box, and a few other noises I hear but cannot identify. But during a power outage those noises go away and suddenly you are left with nothing but silence. And if you live alone like I do, there's nothing like a power outage to remind me of how alone I truly am. I mean, as long as there is noise around me, I tend not to dwell on loneliness. But silence...

Last Tuesday night, at about 2 a.m., I was thrust into one of those moments when the power went out in the midst of a thunderstorm. It was dark. Very dark. And quiet. So I lit a few candles and was once again amazed at how a little bit of light can not only light up the room but also my heart. I had four candles going in my living room. When I lit my first candle, several Bible verses came to mind immediately. In John 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." Jesus is that light which chases the darkness away. He's like my candles. Gloom turns into hope. Loneliness into fullness. Fear into peace. All because the light has come into the darkness.

It's a shame that it took a thunderstorm to remind me of that.