Reaching for the light that eludes us

I awoke in the darkness, confused and alone, with no understanding where everyone had gone or why this experience was covering me.

What just happened to me I thought as my mind was in turmoil with no sight or hearing that at least would give me some hope as to where I was.

We may think that the time to ask why this perplexing situation has suddenly placed me in a position of a loss of perception as to where I was can be too overwhelming for someone who always had the answer to most things. This present entity was beyond my comprehension and I was frightened beyond my intellect.

Let’s for a moment take each phenomenon familiar to our human understanding and dissect its place within our scientific environment. First, what is light? We know that with this element our eyes are able to see the difference between many articles of substance and become able to make choices of right or wrong decisions. Without this element of light we would wander aimlessly through life never realizing the dangers that may confront us.

Second, what have any of us been able to accomplish in life as each one surges ahead using light to guide our eventual success in the changing world we exist in. Add to this the words from John’s Gospel; “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn. 1: 4 - 5).

As what seemed to be time, without light no recollection of time could be had, this person yelled out, “O God” and suddenly a tiny flicker of what appeared to be light began to penetrate his captivity of nothing, turning it into something. He then began to pray not knowing what to say, just uttering little bits of what his memory began to reveal.

After what seemed to be a long time he saw the opening widen where the tiny flicker of light first appeared. Suddenly he was able to notice he had a body with hands and legs. Standing he saw an image like he had never dreamed of. It was a large man with a covering that gleamed as a mighty torch exuding light in all directions and the feeling of peace surrounded this man who was lost and has been found.

That somehow describes the prologue of John’s Gospel; “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by man’s decision but by God.” (Jn 1: 9 13).

This man lost in darkness without the presence of God rediscovered who he was and found the way into glory through the light that awaits our call to him. The light is always there, it just requires a calling out to the Christ who is the light.

Ralph B. Hathaway