Shine on me

I crawled out of a semi-warm bed this morning around 6:15, and let the dogs out to go explore the world. When I opened the back door, I was surprised to discover that the wind was cutting like a very sharp blade, the sun was no where to be found, and clouds were covering every portion of what could be the shreds of dawn. I had thought today was going to be warmer and sunny. Perhaps it was that thinking part that let me down.

This surprising start to the day led me to ponder more, always as you know a dangerous undertaking.

Think of it this way: When we call on the Holy Spirit for guidance, for teaching, for clearance to the will of God, we often ask Him to do one particular thing. We ask for the Holy Spirit, beloved of our souls, to enlighten us. Enlighten us. Give us light. Give us help. Give us guidance. Give us inspiration. But mostly, give us some light, please. Please. Please.

Last night as we were driving to Church Point, another of our towns, another of our churches, to teach a Bible Study, on one of the many little roads we travel to do that, there was a car with its emergency lights flashing on the side of the road. It was past sundown, and I told Mary that I would stop except it was dark and that was like a scene from Criminal Minds or something. I stop in the dark, a serial killer jumps out and I'm Billy Jerky somewhere down the road.

Darkness at the edge of town, Bruce Springsteen sang. Darkness, darkness, darkness. It's the area of evil, the slips of Satan, the moments we are least enlightened.

And what is the remedy for all of it?

I believe John's Gospel sort of spells it out completely, or as completely as it can be said.

He wrote, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was night the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world."

Ahem.

The true light (not false teaching, or false bravado, or false sales pitches)...
that enlightens (gives the dark side the light side) ...
every man (and woman and child) ...
was coming into the world.

This morning was as dark as a coal miner's wallet.

But the forecast is for sun to arrive this afternoon, enlightening everyone the rays come in contact with.

We will bear witness to that light. We will talk about how warm and wonderful it is, after darkness had been with us for so long.

And we will remember. The light is our friend.

Holy Spirit, beloved of our souls, enlighten us, guide us, strengthen us, console us, tell us what we should do.

Shine, Jesus, Shine.