Live in Light

“Come on, Bev, shake it off! Pitch to the glove!” I can hear Dad shouting those words from the other side of the fence. Like most pitchers will attest, there will occasionally be that umpire who see balls and strikes crossing only a round plate – as if there is no inside, no outside, no corner – it’s split the middle and dead across.

Do you ever find yourself unable to “shake” a particular darkness? Perhaps it’s a reoccurring emotional state, a gripping bad habit, or a destructive attitude. You’ve pulled on those [proverbial] bootstraps so many times, they’re beginning to wear thin. The fear that gloom might consume you in one final gulp weighs heavily. I’ve often wondered about the thoughts of those closest to Jesus during the days before His arrest. Surely they sensed the growing political and religious unrest, feared something terrible was about to happen. Jesus knew there was much yet to be revealed in His death and resurrection, so much His followers did not understand, yet He spoke to their most immediate and particular darkness: “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46). To those circumstances that crowd-out and cloud-over what is, hear this: Shake it off! Daylight is come – The Day Star shines – Night reigns no more – Morning has come! Dad’s advice with regard to my pitching was this: Yeah, Bev, that was a lousy call but get THAT pitch out of your head. Concentrate on the next one, and the next one, and the next one – pitch to the glove. Believer, take heart! Christ is Hope and Light. Shake off the darkness – Live in the Light!