Eyes Open

Have you ever driven at night? I don’t mean down a well-lit highway. I mean down a dark, two-lane highway, with no (or sparse) lights. Perhaps the only lights you encounter are those from the opposite direction – I hate that! How long did it take your eyes to adjust, or readjust?

Going down the same two-lane highway in broad daylight, is no big deal, whether we have oncoming traffic, bicyclists, you name it! But, there’s something about the cloak of darkness that has you turning down, or off, your radio – so you can see better, and focusing your eyes and attention on the road that much more.

Life can be like this sometimes… Think about it – how dark are the nights when you are going through a tough time? You would sleep if you could, but no, it’s in the still of the night that you are pressing your way from one place to another. It’s in the darkest of nights that you find yourself out there, journeying to your next destination. There is no time to sleep, you must stay awake, you must keep your eyes open. But, hold on, are you on this journey alone? Are you pressing your way down this dark, dreary road by yourself? Okay, music is off, time to be attentive.

Do you hear it? That still small voice, leading you, guiding you. He will never leave you nor forsake you… “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭KJV

They say it’s always darkest before the day breaks. I don’t know if there’s truth to that, or if it’s just one of those cutesy, inspirational quotes… One thing I do know is, no matter how dark the night, the sun will rise in the morning. No matter how long the night may seem, it cannot – it will not last always, the sun will rise again. I have endured situations where it seemed as though my night would never end, until someone led me to a place and helped me open my eyes. I was nearly blinded by the light shining all around!

Whatever the case, whether we put on blinders because we have become comfortable with the darkness, or we are ensconced by the darkness, waiting for the day to break – the sun will rise again. We must open our eyes. We must keep our eyes open. We must remain vigilant. We must allow the light to shine on us, in us, and emanate through us!

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