In a Dark room full of Light!

Being an adult, you would think the darkness wouldn't still be scary. But that is the one thing from my childhood that lingers...fear of being in completely unfamiliar darkness. I cower behind others to lead the way down dark paths to unforeseen destinations. This fear is sometimes so intense that it hinders me from adventures into the unknown.

But twelve weeks ago, I bit the bullet and stepped into a completely dark room and shut and locked the door behind me. In extreme fear, I decided to trust God.

While fumbling around in the blackness, I found there were other people inside that room as well. Each one of them had a glimmer of light to share with me. It may have simply been a matchstick, a lighter, or a small candle, but each offering provided a lamp of hope shining about me. I felt not so scared and not so alone.

A few days ago, as I was diligently trying to keep the light flickering on the match stick, someone opened the door to that dark room. Three someones to be exact. And when they entered the room, they flicked the light switch on. Glorious, magnificent radiance filled my eyes! Love and fulfillment, hope and understanding, trust and connection all came pouring in on me. I knew then that I could survive anything that my future holds.

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Twelve weeks ago, I signed up to do mission work in China. It was like stepping into a dark room. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. As the weeks passed, I found that many people I knew had been on mission trips to far away places and they had much "light" to shed on the subject. Thank you for those match sticks, lighters, and candles. Finally, last Saturday night, I attended a presentation given by three men from HOCC who have just come back from China. It was like these guys came into my dark room and switched the light on. I get it now! I understand why I am going. I know that I have the compassion for these people, enough understanding of the Word to teach them, and the love of God behind me.

Thank you Steve, Malcom, and Gary for turning on the light for me!