As an American born and raised in suburban California, I’ve never understood the analogies in the Bible referring to walking in the darkness. My entire life has been lit by light. The streets are lined with lampposts. My house pulses with reliable electricity and on the rare occasion it goes out, candles, flashlights, and iPhone screens are all easily accessible to provide light! And even in dim light, I know the twists and turns of the streets in my city. I know the general layout of my house and can move easily through out. Darkness is not an issue, ever.
I’d never considered the absolute necessity of light before. In Africa, Rwanda most specifically, those Bible analogies ring true.
Last night, as the 4-hour revival service neared an end, I looked out at the horizon where the sun was only a blur of beautiful oranges and yellows. My knees began to shake up and down as they do when something is weighing on my mind. If the sun sets we won’t have any light to see the path as we walk home!!
Well, eventually, keyword: eventually, the service ended, we said our love-filled, longwinded goodbyes and began the journey back to the house in the D.A.R.K. And I don’t mean the dark where you wait until your eyes adjust and then you can barely make out figures and shapes enough to walk home. I mean dark where you can see a few inches in front of your face. This is the dark where the stars shine breathtakingly above because of the complete absence of light on the Earth. It was DARK.
Now, I guess on a paved, American street that I was familiar with, I could lightly shuffle my feet and make it home with out catching an edge and eating the gravel, but Africa is different.
Before arriving here, I’d heard stories about the roads in Africa. I knew about the red, dirt roads and my heart jumped when I saw them from the airplane window! I’d heard that the red dirt sticks to your shoes changing their color completely! I’d romanticized it in my head. I even took the hills and massive potholes in stride while staring wide-eyed at the astounding scenery. But walking them in the dark changes the story.
So, as we set off on the half-mile walk home, I began imagining the huge tree roots that wind through the streets and the foot deep potholes that are scattered through the maze that lay before me. I knew I was preparing for a challenge. I was preparing myself for scraped knees. But then our pastor pulled out a small, blue flashlight and set off. All seven girls on my team huddled closely behind him and stepped where the red dirt reflected his footprint. As we took each step without falling, we gained confidence in our leader. With grace and strength, he led us to our home filled with electricity, step-by-step.
For the twenty-minute walk, I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path…” This world is DARK. Its not the “wait ten minutes for our eyes to adjust dark”. Its ‘I can’t see anything!!’ DARK. And the journey is not a paved, American road. It is filled with potholes and red, sticky dirt. There are tree roots that stick out with intention of harm. (Psalm 199:110) There are twists and turns that confuse and deceive. The wounds of stumbling cling to us, causing fear for the next steps. It’s hard. It’s impossible alone.
But as Christians we are given light!! In fact, we are a light! (Matthew 5:14) We are not left on a random street in Africa in the dark and told to find home. We were given a guide. We were given the Holy Spirit to light our paths with that little, blue flashlight and to show us the way home. By God’s grace, we arrive safely at the source of light!! Thank you Jesus!!
But so many times, I find myself stumbling in the dark, by choice! (Psalm 119:109) I ignore the Holy Spirit. I don’t read the Bible. I wander away from the blue ray of light to carve my own path in the darkness. I leave the safety and love of my Pastor to do things my own way. But my Pastor doesn’t continue on the path with the others leaving me in the jungle alone. He stops and seeks me out. He finds me in the darkness, sitting on the ground with scraped knees, and He scoops me up into His arms. He wipes the red, sticky dirt completely off my clothes. He bandages my wounds so well that they disappear! And He shines His little, blue light on the trail back to the path with Him.
I don’t deserve any of it. I’m a wandering sinner. But He loves me like a daughter. He mourns for me when I stray! He mourns for me!?! How blessed am I!? What a good God I serve!!
Lord, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I’m so grateful for your love. I’m so grateful that you love me even when I wander. Even when I am bruised and alone, you seek me out. You meet me where I am and make me new. Jesus, I’m so grateful. I love you, Lord! (Psalm 119:111-112 “Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.”)
