Fighting the Darkness

It’s only late October, but winter has come early to the Upper Midwest. It’s not fair—especially in a Covid-19 year, when life is hard enough already. While I don’t love the cold, it’s the darkness that really gets to me. My wife and I went out to eat tonight —the first time in a long time, because we’re trying to save money and stay healthy. And we had a sweet, socially-distanced time together at an amazing Thai restaurant in our city, with the most amazing Pad Thai I’d had in years. But as we put on our black coats in the dark restaurant to go into the dark night, I forgot the black take-home box of leftover Pad Thai on the dark wood restaurant table (a real disappointment)! And Judy forgot her dark mask in our dark car, and our garage door opener fell on the black carpeting of our car, so we’ll have to look for it in the morning.

And it’s this darkness that seeps into our house, when we have to turn on the light in every room we enter. Or it seeps into our hearts and minds every time we turn on or click on the news.

So how do we fight this darkness?

The ancient Hebrews found their source of light and joy in God’s face. In a blessing over 3,000 years old, Aaron a priest prayed over the people, “May the LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV).

For them, life and joy and blessing starts with having God’s face. And as people spend time in God’s presence, they begin to reflect this light to one another. These days, we have a much-loved little girl toddling around our house a few times each week—with smiles that light up the room. And we’re discovering once again how face-to-face joyful interaction not only builds children’s brains, but also keeps our own hearts and minds filled with light.

So this evening, or tomorrow, or this week, see what’s special in another person and see if you can light up a room and someone’s heart with warm greetings, and glad-to-be-together moments. It’s a start, at least, as we learn to fight the darkness that seems to be closing in all around us.