I enjoy late-night walks across my fields and through my woods.
With my dogs by my side, looking for attention or guarding my path,
There’s nothing to fear, as Roosevelt said, but fear itself.
If I use a light, it’s just to ensure my feet don’t stumble.
That said, I was up early and driving to a destination yesterday.
The alarm said 5:06 a.m. I was out the door in about 15 minutes.
Dark roads don’t feel as familiar as they do in the daytime,
Even when I’ve driven them hundreds and thousands of times.
Finally, the freeway. Through the darkness of miles.
My headlights shined on the back of vehicles as I neared them,
And glared at those who thought they should pass, even me.
Something I’ve known caught my attention.
18-wheeler trailers have reflective tape you don’t notice in the sunshine.
But at night, and with my headlights, I began to note their special markings.
Some outlined their back door, others across the bumper guards that protect.
Some were in the shape of symbols, and others? I could only guess.
And one? The trailer had an advertising screen. A TV, if you would.
Size? About 65 inches, and it was playing commercials soliciting new customers.
The truck had no markings to tell me who they were.
You have to follow them long enough to find that info out.
This thought popped into my mind and spirit.
When night reigns, we often fade into the background.
But we can let our light shine, or at least let our reflection shine
As other lights look about, we can at least tell someone we’re here.
I wonder what we reflect when the world around us is so dark.
Are we hiding our light under a bushel? No!
We are supposed to let our light shine!
We are as a city set on a hill – a lighted beacon.
We’re not meant to blend into the background,
But Shine On! Shine Forth! Especially when the going is dark.
I know He does…and not just for me.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ‘
(Numbers 6:22-26 NKJV)
Do all things without complaining and disputing,
that you may become blameless and harmless,
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world,
holding fast the word of life,
so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ
that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
(Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV)
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