A Ray of Light

“For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” Psalms 18:28

We had gone to our cabin in the Sierras for a few days of relaxation. Snow had been forecast for the next week, so we went prepared. We brought lots of food, books, laptop computer, plus my sewing machine was always ready to help fill the time.

It was snowing and overcast with typical gray snow clouds when we arrived. The warm and glowing red fire quietly burning in the fireplace was just the key that we needed to start the week.

On the second day I developed symptoms of asthma which I hadn’t experienced in about three years. The inhaler I had thrown in my bag was out of date and ineffective. My physician from home called in a new prescription and also added Prednisone. This was a little frightening, since I had never taken a steroid. This episode left me sore, weak, and a little anxious.

Later I went to bed, and in the middle of the night awoke. With no street lights and an overcast sky, I was surprised to see a soft light glowing in the window. Curiosity got the best of me, so I quietly slipped out of the bed and out of the bedroom. I slowly made my way across the floor of the loft, gingerly went down the two steps, crossed a short hall and into the front bedroom. I could see the light shining through the blinds. When I opened the blinds, I could see a large snow plow parked up the street across the road. Since we are at 7,200 feet elevation, larger equipment is needed to keep our driveways cleared during snow storms and the occasional blizzard. Last winter we had fourteen feet of snow, and it kept the workers busy. I couldn’t tell if the operator was having mechanical problems or had possibly stopped to have a pastrami and Swiss cheese on rye for his lunch. However, the bright and piercing lights from his machinery broke the inky black darkness and the area looked like a lit-up football field. It dispelled all darkness in the area. A finger of light softly illuminated our long driveway. While we slept, our driveway had been cleared, as indicated by the black patches of asphalt that shined through. Convinced that all was well, I returned to bed.

Lying there, I asked God, “Do you want to teach me something about this?” He gently answered, “Yes.” He let me know that when we walk though dark times in our lives, whether by sickness, divorce, financial crisis, or by a death, He is always there to guide the way. Even though it may be murky and dark, He is the candle of light that quietly leads the way. We can depend on His comfort and guidance when we can’t see the way. Yes, and He also works while we sleep!

Thank you, Lord, that you are the candle in my darkness. You light the way when the path is dark!