Sitting in the Dark

I don't know what I was going to do if I had to go home and sit in the dark one more night following the roar of Hurricane Ike through central Ohio. It's awful having to do your hair and make-up in the restroom at work. But the house is standing and sustained no damage. The grocery store was bare of dairy items last night but it was full of all other items. Friends of mine waited in line for 45 minutes at McDonald's for dinner one night but they did not have to stand in line for hours just for a case of water. We had to throw some food out of our refrigerator but we did not lose everything of importance to us. Weather in Ohio has been moderate this week, not sweltering at 90+ degrees as it is in Texas and Louisiana. We had jobs to go to each day; many do not. And instead of my husband working on his computer in one room and me on mine in another, we actually had to sit in a room together and talk over the candelight.

There is value to sitting in the dark. It is may not be pleasant at the time but the end results can have a tremendous impact on our lives. We learn to come together and share as family, friends and community. We will have stories to share to the next generation. We learn to share and to empathize with others who are less fortunate.

There have been times in my life where I was sitting in a darkness that was overwhelming. But the Lord was always there, even at the darkest moments. And as I emerged from darkness into the light, I found strength - a strength that has never left me. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2: 9-10,

" 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (NIV)

For when we leave that darkness, we know that we are with God for it is only through Him that we can escape the darkness. And because he has guided us out of that darkness, it if for us to praise His holy name!

This is one of my favorite songs, Here We Are to Worship (Michael W. Smith).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP04GjifMPk

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who are suffering from the hurricanes. May you find the hand of God as He leads you through this struggle. He IS with you.