Follow the Light: Advent Lessons from a Maglite

We never intended for it to happen. We never planned to be hiking when the dark hit. But here we were, walking a narrow trail on a moonless night. And the dark, it was so pitch black you couldn’t see a few steps in front of you. My attempt to light my way with a flashlight failed miserably, when after turning it on the light faded to nothing. The battery was dead. No light. Walking in the dark is bad enough, but walking in the dark with bad eyes is akin to seeing nothing but a wall of darkness around you. All I wanted to do was huddle down; to stop and not take one step further. It’s a natural response, when you find yourself engulfed in darkness. You stop. Immediately. You stop to get your bearings. You grasp for something, for anything that will lead you out of the dark.

A few steps in front of me, my husband pulled out a tiny flashlight. A light so small you’d scoff at it, thinking the only light it could provide would be a tiny flicker at best. He’d forgotten it was in his pack. Scrounging around for our larger flashlight, the dead one I held in my hand, his fingers felt the small light. A flick of the tiny switch and immediately a beam of light extended out into the darkness, lighting the trail before us. One small light was all it took. One small light lit the way to the back-country campsite, where we made camp for the night.

Light is like that. A single light can make a world of difference. One small light can illuminate your path and lead you out of the dark. Over two thousand years ago, a light was born into our world. Christ is that light; born into flesh on that first Christmas day. When His light shines into your life, it illuminates even the darkest of places. No longer are we held hostage by fear, unable to take a step further. We do what comes naturally. We move towards the light. Even a small flicker of light on the dark trails of our lives provides direction. The brilliance of Christ’s light gives us much needed hope, to put one foot in front of the other. He lights our way, as we walk towards Him. All we have to do is follow the light.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
Isaiah 60:1-3

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

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