Focusing On the Light

     Standing on the ocean shore on the west coast of the U.S., one sees the sun set over the water. The glory of sunset's colors spread over the waves, as the red sun slips out of sight. I am told that standing on the east coast, one sees the sun rise over the water. The dark sky lightens to pale blue, and the fairness of sunrise peeps up over the waves. I would love to see that.

     It is the same world, same sun, and same body of land, but one's entire perspective is changed, depending on where one faces.

     So it is with our day to day lives. Everyone has a unique personality, with differing needs for love, companionship, and encouragement. Some have strong inner confidence, seemingly from birth, while others have a frail self image, and need constant reassurance. Some people have a far more difficult time keeping their eyes focused on the beautiful and joyful things, and their attention strays to all the negatives surrounding them.

     It is so easy for me to become downcast in spirit, especially since menopause became a part of my daily life. I can be perfectly happy, and then something small happens, distorting my viewpoint, and sadness falls all over me. My eyes have turned from the joy, to a dark tunnel surrounding me. All of a sudden, all I can see is the tunnel.

     From babyhood, a child's personality shows. Some children are very independent, and do not need much cuddling and talking. Other children are clingy, and need a lot of cuddling and talking. Humans are born different. We are cheerful, solemn, calm, excitable, outgoing, shy, and everything in between. Some children have the whole gamut in one. It is the same with adults, though most of us learn to control our longings, and often do without, because other adults are not going to fulfill our needs. We must do that ourselves, as adults. But we are not alone. We have a Heavenly Father Who cares very much about our every need. If we turn to Him for help, in lonely times, heartbroken times, dark times, He will help us.

     There are people whose emotions are so turbulent, and unpredictably changeable, that they need medication. This is a disability, just like if we had a missing leg . God understands this completely. It is His great mercy, that medicines have been developed, which can help in these situations. Since menopause, I have needed medication myself. While it helps a great deal, I still have the normal range of emotions, just less overwhelming.

     Everyone's emotions can change without our permission. A fog obscures the positive, and we are lost in the negative. We didn't know where the fog came from, but it descended as quickly as a hailstorm. We wish we could still see the sunshine, but it is gone. It is like tripping, and plunging into a dark pit that we didn't see. How can we find our way out of the darkness, and find the light again? Sometimes the darkness is so deep, so all enveloping, that we forget that light even exists. This most often happens when a tragedy befalls us. Many life experiences are tragedies. Most everyone experiences at least one in their lifetime. Frequently, people experience many, as the years go by. They may experience car accidents where someone they love is permanently injured; people's houses burn to the ground, folks come down with a terminal illness; many become homeless, and lose their children to the state; perhaps a spouse leaves, or dies, or a child dies.

     Countless people across the United States, with all their intelligence and creativity intact, are forced to live in nursing homes, because of physical disabilities. This is a great tragedy. They have so much to offer all the younger generation. I wish there was a way to get ALL these people to write their memories, and their wisdom, and their feelings about life. In their own words. Never mind ability. Wouldn't that make a rich and marvelous web site! If I could figure out a way to reach the people who could and would write something to share, I would create a web site for any number of people's writings. Hundreds. Thousands. They wouldn't be wasted, then. And the people who are trapped in bodies that require help from others, would have a light shining in their lives - a goal - a purpose - a joy. Anyone have any ideas?

Oh, Jesus is the light to the weary ones,
the weary ones, the weary ones,
oh, Jesus is the light to the weary ones;
a shelter in the time of storm.

Vernon J. Charlesworth 1880

     Light is such a vitally important thing. Without light, of course, all life on earth would die. When a person who cannot see at all, has a corneal transplant, like my daughter did, the first thing that happens, if all goes well, when the bandages come off, is that the eye sees light! The darkness is gone! The thrill of that is indescribable, even before images can be recognized. Imagine how keenly someone lost in a cave, when his flashlight goes out, strains his eyes for someone else's light - someone coming to find him! Spiritual light is even more necessary. Our relationship with God is the basis of our life in Heaven for eternity. Also, spiritual light brings forth emotional light. The light called joy.

     We may not have as much control over our emotions as we would like. But God can give us that control. When we face the darkness, and no light can be seen, we must still remember that we can turn our eyes to Jesus, Who IS our light, and ask Him to give us peace.

* Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee. Ps. 25: 1, 2a

     Better yet, we can thank Him in advance, believing that He will give us the gentle light of peace. I believe that this pleases God, showing Him our faith and trust in Him.

* For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Ps. 18:28

     And He WILL. Perhaps not immediately. But He WILL.

* For thou hast been a strength to the ... needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm. Isaiah 25:4b

* I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Ps. 40:1-3

© 2004 Rosemary Gwaltney