5/20/09 – There’s a Light Switch???

Personal Journal Exert

We couldn’t find a light switch. Actually, we couldn’t even find the light. Being so close to the equator, it gets dark early in Africa...at least in sub-Saharan Uganda. Pretty much pitch black by 8:00pm. With no light...natural or otherwise...we had no way to see in the dark bathroom. We were a resourceful group of ladies so we went to the bathroom in the dark with door closed, brushed our teeth with an eerie mirror reflection and two girls showered with the door open (we had a shower curtain) just so that there would be a hint of light from our bedroom. “It’s Africa!” we said and so complacently and contentedly put up with our unfortunate surroundings and continued to stumble in the dark. All until Deb, our trip leader and 6th roommate came in. “Where is the light switch for the bathroom?” She asked. Upon informing her there wasn’t, she went from side to side of our bedroom, tried a few knobs and then promptly turned on the bathroom light. The other five of us sat on our beds with our mouths open. “No way!” We all seemed to chant in unison. “There’s a light switch??” We spent the next five minutes laughing at our own lack of astuteness.

And yet, I wonder how often we go through life stumbling in the dark – contented and resolved – assuming it is the only way. Sometimes the path really is dark and narrow. Sometimes we have to endure the night of life and its eerie reflections and uncomfortable situations and wait for morning to come and make all things clear. And sometimes we settle for the darkness when there is a light switch right around the corner.

Father God, for all the time I stumble through assuming “It’s life!” and assume that is all there is, forgive me. Help me continually seek out the light that is you as I walk through the dark and bumpy path ahead.