Dark enough to see!

Dark enough to See!

The joy of Spring Break has shifted into varying emotions. With spring’s longer days, and the opportunity to work from home, there is more than enough time to build dreams and achieve goals. However, the cloud of increased mortalities from the Coronavirus and disappearing incomes has darkened the light so many people need. There is a way to get through it all.

Celebrated journalist Chris Cuomo was recently diagnosed with COVID-19. In a recent interview, he spoke about how the virus has caused him to swiftly drop over 10 pounds just from sweating. After talking to a heart specialist, Cuomo learned that his greatest weapon was his mind and his actions. The doctor expressed the importance of moving and stretching. Cuomo continued that, “You have got to do the things to beat the virus, you have got to breathe deep when it hurts and it hurts.”

How crazy is it to think that a sick person is encouraging people to move in the midst of their pain?

Cuomo challenges the viewers to do what they can to lower their fever and noted that, “The COVID is banking on you doing nothing, your indolence...it wants us passive, on our backs, it wants us to do nothing."

Chris Cuomo called moving his “secret” to fighting the Coronavirus.

I can only imagine the darkness of having to fight for better when you feel sick and alone.

Genesis Chapter 1:1-3 (NLT),

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.^[a] The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

The Bible begins the way we should start every aspect of our life – focused on God. Before the creation of the world there was God. Before this virus there was God. And, after it is all said and done, God will still be God. Despite the view of our circumstances, we can always look to God.

It is believed that Moses wrote the book of Genesis and the beginning verses detail that God created the Heavens and the Earth. It is awesome to know who created it all but the cool part was when. Verse 2 says that all of this foundational creating was done in darkness.

It is a simple analogy to compare the effects of social distancing, wide spread economic upheaval, the uncomfortable break in the education system, and empty toilet paper shelves as darkness. It is also easy to make the excuse that because of the darkness created by circumstance, “we can’t do nothin’!” Look back at our scripture. Even in darkness God created the heavens and the earth. He didn’t need a nightlight to make it happen and we were created in His image and likeness.  

I heard a friend say, “Crisis forces creativity.” You can be productive in this dark season but measure your productivity. Productivity is personal. Just because someone else is posting 37 times a day on social media about their new business ventures doesn’t mean that what you have done is insignificant. Recognize that you must move but do it according to your abilities.

In verse 3, God says, “Let there be light.” He created the heavens and the earth but allowed the light to exist. There is no mention of a light source, just that God allowed light to be. It isn’t until verse 14 that God creates the stars and in verse 16 that He creates the Sun and Moon. 

Where is the source of the light?

I read a quote that emphasizes, “I am not afraid of the dark because I love the stars.” It’s about hope. We can deal with the dark because of the glimmers of light called hope. The moon reflects the sun and the stars glow in the dark. Everything needs the Sun like we have to have God’s Son, Jesus.

The reason God could say, let there be light is because essentially, He is the light. Before the sun existed – there was LIGHT. Jesus, the son of God - describes himself as light. 

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT).

In seasons of darkness we must not only seek the light for ourselves but also be a reflection of light for others.

God’s first words after creating the heavens and the earth are about light! What are your first words when you wake up? Are you complaining or complementing God on his goodness? Are you whining about your to-do lists or worshipping God that you have stuff to do? We allow light to come into our dark places through the words we speak and the actions we take.

Have you ever smiled back at someone just because they smiled first? It didn’t matter if you knew them – smiles are contagious.

Ecclesiastes teach us that everything has a season. Peter’s walk on water and Paul’s songs from prison show us that we can make moves in dark places. Allow me to encourage you to not become stagnant in this season of darkness but to keep moving with purpose.

Fill yourself with light daily by:

1.     Go physically outside

2.     Listen to spiritually uplifting music

3.     Smiling at someone else

When you seek light, collect light, and share the light – the world is a brighter place.

Joy is coming.