Friday, May 23, 2008

Spiritual Memory

God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

I John 1:5b

Sitting in inky blackness, illuminated by a bonfire, the camp speaker gave me a truth that prepared me for life as a Jesus follower--Don’t doubt in the darkness what God has shown you in the light. I was fifteen and still remember.

Being afraid of the dark is normal. Rarely do we enter an unfamiliar darkness without flipping on a light in order to expose all that is hidden. Light alleviates our fears allowing us to move around, confidently.

It’s our memory however, that changes our behavior. Our homes, bedrooms, place of work, or school are familiar places and so, even if shrouded in darkness, we allow our memory of what we know to be in that familiar place, to guide us. Consequently, in the middle of the night we find that we have made it to the bathroom--without a light.

Jesus followers need to rely on a spiritual memory as well. During those moments when life’s decisions are obvious and clear cut we are privileged to stand in God’s well lit room. It is at these moments, when everything is visible, that spiritual memorization is essential. Because the truth is, in an instant the light of the “obvious” could be snuffed out and instead of confidently moving ahead we find ourselves disoriented and confused.

If as Jesus followers we consciously make spiritual memory a priority, fearing the dark should no longer be an issue. Without a doubt we will remember what God has shown us in the light.

Jesus, you were the Light
that God sent to illumine
the darkness of the world.
When darkness envelops me,
help me to remember
what I have seen in
your Presence
.
Amen.

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