What do you think of when you think of something illuminated?
The first thing that comes to mind is light. To illuminate something requires a light source. There are many light sources available. However, without light, there is no illumination.
Have you every been in a pitch dark cave deep under the earth's surface? When I was around 14 years old, my family went to Carl"s Bad Cavern in California. We all donned head lamps and followed a guide down a semi- steep incline into a large cave opening that revealed hundreds of bats hanging on the ceiling upside down.
As we ascended the trail down deep into the cave, the light that guided us became solely from each and every head lamp worn by our guide and all the tourists. We finally were deep into the belly of the cave and our guide stopped us to tell us the history of the surroundings. He then instructed all of us to simultaneously turn off our head lamps and experience the complete darkness. At that moment, the cave walls which had been illuminated by our lights, became pitch black. However, there was still an image burned in my memory of the surrounding cave walls which I had seen illuminated seconds prior to the blackout.
We had gone to the cave opening the day prior to our hike, and watched the mass exidous of bats fly out of the cave at dusk. It was a crazy and beautiful sight to behold. The sun, which was setting, illuminated the hundreds of bats that flew out of the cave opening and swooned together in a fluid motion around the opening of their cave. This image is much like the memory of complete pitch black deep inside the cave. The illumination and backlighting of the bats flying in unison is burned in my memory.
Light is such a gift, and one that most of us may take forgranted from time to time. Light allows us to create visual memories and carry them with us years after we have experienced something remarkable. Light helps us to see so much of the beauty that surrounds us each and every day.
In addition to guiding our footsteps and helping us to see, light from a burning fire can provide warmth that casts shadows and illumintes our surroundings. The light that is cast from a flame can give us comfort and also make us feel at peace. These are all pleasant references to what light provides in our lives. And there are so many more that have not been mentioned.
Jesus spoke these words to the Pharisees near the end of His life, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12
What a comforting promise to be offered by our Savior! Blessings today and every day, focus on the blessings of light today and all that you are able to see clearly this day due to this gift.
Comments