Where's the Light

I’m sure you have stepped into a dimly lit room that was lacking sufficient lighting; dingy and gloomy; seemingly missing that alive-feeling and having to move slowly as if you were walking in a crypt, catacomb, or burial chamber, to put it grimly. 

I don’t think there is any worse feeling than squinting to try and see clearly, because of the absence of light, while holding your hands in front of you to ward off any potential surprise bump to the head.   

Darkness, without light, for long periods of time can bring about sleepiness, low energy levels, depression, and different mood swings.  People living in Alaska or states where rain is more prevalent than the appearance of the sun, and coastal lying areas where fog is common, are at risk of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The amount of sunlight a person receives affects some of the body’s hormones and the chemicals in the brain.  One theory is that light stimulates a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which controls mood, sleep, and appetite. 

I built the ranch style house that I now live in about 28 years ago.  It has two hallways; one at each end that connects the master bedroom and the front bedrooms to the rest of the house.

The only problem with both hallways was the absence of natural light, though I provided two ceiling light fixtures in each hall, thinking that they would be adequate.  Something had to be done after years of putting up with the artificial lighting that was not enough to bring total satisfaction to the eye gate.

I could have chosen to exist in the shadows longer than I did, but the small amount of light-output finally got the best of me.  It was dark without turning on the lights, to say the least.  Shadows from low luminous fixtures were not only man-made counterfeits for natural lighting, but my monthly electrical bill revealed the truth of my oversight at time of construction, because the lights were continuously on.

The installation of skylights was the answer.  Brightly polished sheet metal shafts were installed from my dark hallways, through the attic, to outside light of the sun.  Wow!  What a difference!  These solar skylights were the answer to my dilemma.

I now exclaim, “I see the light!” rather than “Where’s the light?” while reaching for the light switch.  It took awhile to break this habit.

For a number of days after installing the skylights, when leaving the brightly, illuminated passageways I would always reach for the light switch to turn off the lights, which were not on. But sooner than later I ceased doing it, while enjoying the brightness of sunlight.

Stumbling through these areas came to an end.  The shadow that I now cast is from the true light that was created by God and not man.  The connecting halls are no longer encumbering. The mistake of omission when framing my house has been resolved. 

Several years ago when my wife’s parents were still living, she and I thought it would be nice to take them to a fancy restaurant for their anniversary, which proved to be a memorable evening.

Coming in from the outside brightness of the setting sun, we could hardly see when following the waiter to our reserved table.  I guess it is called, mood-ambiance; using soft lighting.  I don’t know if they were trying to save on electrical costs or trying to be like the restaurant down the street.  It was dimly lighted, none the less.

The reputation of the establishment was well-known for its good food, especially the steaks they served—Dad, as I called him, loved steak and potatoes.

When our meal came, I prayed over it and blessings upon Mom and Dad.  As we began to eat, suddenly, without provocation Dad said, “Where’s the light?  I can’t see what I’m eating!”

He was a lovely man of God that spoke his mind without fear or favor.  A person never had to guess what he was thinking; he just let you know.  I learned much from his life experiences  of walking with God and how to honor and love the Lord by keeping His commandments.

It was the first and last time that we went to this particular restaurant to eat.  I too thought it was much too dark for customers, especially those that may be visually impaired. 

My wife and I chuckle every time we think about this special time together with her folks.  I wish they were still around to enjoy their company, but we have wonderful memories of them as examples of the Christian life they lived before us.  They are certainly in a better place enjoying their reward for a life of serving God.  The grace of God was imparted to them through Jesus Christ our Savior.

“Amazing Grace” is a popular song that many people know and have perhaps sung.  The last few words of the lyrics are these:  “Was blind, but now I see” which references a life without Christ; having eyes that were blinded by Satan to the truth of God’s Word, but then being transitioned from sinful living into the light of God’s love, which brought sight to blinded eyes.

It gives me pause to think how important light is.  In the beginning God said, “Let there be light.”  He saw that it was good.  God thought it most important to create it.

For many years I stumbled along in darkness rather than walking in light, because of the sinful nature of my heart.  My way was darker than the hallways at my home and the poorly lit restaurant where we ate. 

My soul desired true light that would illuminate my way with clarity of vision, but I was looking in all the wrong places; dimly lighted pigpens and parties not conducive to good eyesight or quality, moral values. 

The ratio of light to darkness in my world of rebellion was quite low, which led me into deeper involvements with sin.  Not being able to see does this, because my head was bent low with eyes looking downward; trying to see where to place my next step.  The shroud that encompassed me was thick and heavy, which prevented me from seeing the EXIT signs that God was trying to show me.

(John 3:19-20), “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”  vs.20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

In desperation I finally lifted my head and realized there was something greater in life than the blackness that engulfed me.  When I turned my eyes upon Jesus and looked into His wonderful face, it was like someone blasted my soul with a beam of light from heaven; much brighter than when I installed the solar tubes in the hallways at home.

The wide road to destruction on which I was lost, changed, as did the direction of my being.  I now travel a different road that is never cloaked with the darkness of sin, because Jesus, the Son of God, is the light that provides clear vision.  He is the pure and only light that is needed in this world of depravity.  In Him there is pureness of heart and a hope.

The ebb and flow of non-pureness and the obscurities that sin produced, stopped.  The ups and downs of depression and different mood swings, because of the lack of light in my life, ceased when I stepped into the light of God’s love.  With Jesus in my soul, the question, “Where’s the light?” will never be asked again.

(1 John 1:5-7), “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”  vs.6 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth,”  vs.7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

Out of the Fog

I accomplished a challenge that I have wanted to conquer for sometime now.  I weaned myself off of caffeinated coffee.  As time progressed, I found that I was drinking more and more each morning when I took my wife out to breakfast now that I am retired.  I was enjoying it less in the afternoon when the coffee high wore off, because my wife doesn’t drink coffee and it is not readily available at home.

I thought it best to stop, because my blood pressure does better without caffeine in my system.  I want to stick around for my wife as long as I can.  I don’t want any problems relating to high blood pressure later with hindsight saying, “If I had only…”

In the process of giving up coffee, I stopped cold turkey.  I know I said weaned, but it was “That’s it; no more.”  As you know, if you have ever tried to stop drinking coffee, the headaches started coming and I became tired and lethargic. 

My mind lost concentration and it seemed as if I were in a fog when trying to converse with others.  There were other withdrawal symptoms, but I was unaware of these symptoms when I went off coffee.  I thought I was having some sort of mental breakdown or psychological problems until I went to the internet and looked up “What are the withdrawal symptoms of quitting caffeine.” 

I was shocked at what withdrawing from caffeine did to the human body.  I certainly felt better after reading all of the articles pertaining to the subject and was amazed to find out that one cup of coffee in the morning can cause a person to become addicted to caffeine. 

Withdrawal affects individuals in different ways and takes longer, in some, for the brain to re-calibrate itself to no caffeine being in the body.  But I was determined to conquer my challenge.

After about a week and a half or two, my mind started to clear; my body felt alive, even more so than when I was drinking coffee.  I just felt better all over more than anywhere else.  It was like coming out of the fog after driving in it for a long time.  My mind was sharp and vision clear.  

I believe that most people that drive vehicles have driven in the fog at some time in their life.  Occasionally, while listening to the evening news, I hear of a multicar pileup that occurred, because of dense fog and the lack of visibility.

Ships reduce their speed at sea and use foghorns to announce their presence in heavy fog conditions, whereas, airports sometimes divert airplanes to other airports if fog is too thick on the runways.

I remember, at night, riding with one of my friends on a levee road near my home when the fog became so dense that the headlights of his truck reflected so badly off the fog that the dividing line between lanes sometimes disappeared completely, especially at this one intersection where the line was missing altogether.

We didn’t know if the road went straight or curved on the other side of the crossroads.  For those long, couple of seconds, panic hit us both, because we certainly didn’t want to drive off into the water that was on one side of the road or hit another car head-on.  Thank God the line reappeared and we continued on our way at a much slower rate of speed than before.

I was relieved, as was he, when we finally drove out of the fog and visibility returned.  It is a terrible thing to be caught in something that you have little control over. 

Had I done my homework prior to our trip by turning on the radio to local weather conditions in this area, I may have opted out of going with my friend, because of the potential dangers that driving in fog present.

Sight is a wonderful thing, but when visibility is hampered or challenged in any way, when seeing becomes blinded by this or that, a person that continues headlong into obscurity of any kind is asking for trouble.  They need to slow down forward motion of whatever they are doing or stop until clear visibility returns—out of the fog, as it were.

Satan tries to blind people to things that can hurt and even maim them both physically and spiritually.  His attempts to keep people in the fog-of-sin take its toll when shipwreck or collision with reality occurs.  In some cases it is too late to turn back the clock and do things differently.  We must then live with the cost of our actions.

Sin has its consequences, which include the heartache of, “If I had only…” hindsight; after-the-fact regrets.  But we can learn by our mistakes and stay out of the fog with the help of God Almighty.  The Holy Bible helps us to stay clear of foggy areas that can bring chaos and misery.

(Psalm 119:105), “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

The weather report in God’s Word not only provides safe passage and clear direction for our journey through life; it provides light to our path, which reveals the tactics of Satan and how he manipulates the environment around us in an attempt to kill us.

(1 Peter 5:8), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

When we live in the light of God’s Word, the darkened shroud of unbelief that tries to blind us is kept at bay in its place with the devil.  Doubt, fear, and emotional and spiritual battles fade just as fog becomes less and less when coming out of it.

Worry need not be in our vocabulary, because we will see clearly the road up ahead and the narrow gate that leads to abundant living through Christ Jesus the Lord.  The sinking sand or troubled water at the side of us, though disconcerting at times, need never claim our soul, because straight is the way that leads to heaven.

(Matthew 7:13-14),  “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”  vs.14 “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Senseless Drifting

For all intents and purposes, sails and rudders on old schooners, frigates and galleons of their time and sailboats of every type and category, today, do what they were designed to do if implemented properly.  Without sails and rudders doing their job, a vessel will drift aimlessly atop rolling seas and pushed to and fro whichever direction the wind blows. 

Changing tides, which are the periodic rising and falling of large bodies of water caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon, can also influence direction especially if a ship is near estuary entrances, narrow straits and inlets.  The speed of tidal currents in these areas can reach up to several kilometers per hour (1 kph = 0.62137 mph).   

In the open ocean, tidal currents are relatively weak, but can be disconcerting if a rudder or the sails are inoperable or if the helm and rigging are unmanned for whatever reason.  It is a terrible thing to be caught in open waters without the ability to maneuver the bow of the vessel (the most forward part of the hull) into the waves.

The inability for humanity to control their direction in life, without Christ, is like being on a disabled ship that is subject to its surrounds, or sitting on a raft in the middle of the ocean; hoping that someone will find them before the inevitable happens.

It’s not so much being adrift on a raft that brings discomfort and pain; it is the lack of shelter from the hot, scorching sun, and the harshness of the elements around them.  The lack of food and pure, drinking water ultimately claim a person’s life. 

I personally know people that are adrift on rafts of their own making, in surroundings of their own choosing, with little hope for survival.  Their senseless drifting could stop in a moment of time if they would assess the dilemma that they are in and realize that there is no set direction for their life.  But their unwillingness to allow Jesus, their only hope, to save them from the quandary that surrounds them has set their drifting on a perilous journey. 

Misdirected people have allowed themselves to remain lost, by choice, because of their haughty or self-sufficient attitude… “If I can’t do it no-body can.”  So they exist in peril, because of a prideful spirit; refusing the outstretched hand of the Lord, while saying by their actions, “I’d rather do it myself.”

They need only to consider the wonderful things that God provides; the necessities of life.  His well balanced diet-of-truth is in the Holy Bible.  It is sad when people refuse to partake of its sustenance in their weakened state, whereas, if they would eat the meat of God’s Word and drink from the springs of living water that flow from His throne, they would live.  The Bible provides good, spiritual health and direction for life’s journey if we live according to its statutes.  Senseless drifting can cease once and for all. 

Abiding in the protection of God’s Word keeps us from wandering, because living in truth satisfies the deep longing of all those that are adrift without hope.  Any person that remains adrift in uncharted waters is there because they have chosen to do so.  God desires so much more for them than what rafting around in sin can provide.  Sin gives nothing more than an unquenchable thirst for more, whereas, God satisfies forevermore. 

Jesus would become the Savior of their directionless soul if only they would reach up and take His hand.  This is done by saying a simple prayer.  “God forgive me of my sins.  I want Jesus to be Lord and Savior of my soul.”  Jesus is the hope for those that are lost; without direction.

The Bible says that today is the day of salvation.  A person should not wait until tomorrow what they should do today.  No-one has an assurance that they will even see tomorrow.  We must be ready to meet God at any split second, should He call our name.

Too often, self-reliant, self-contained individuals persist in their everyday struggles, because of procrastination.  “I’ll give my heart to Jesus on my deathbed” is what they imagine.   They are impetuous people in other things relating to life, yet sin involvement lacks thought or deliberation as to what they are jumping into when they partake of it; not considering the negative cost of their impetuous nature. 

While drifting in the ocean of decisions, they fail to make the most important choice that will bring them out of desperation and give them a hope.  Some people do, many people do not, which breaks the Lord’s heart.  God gave His Son to die on a cross for those that are drifting in sin so that they can experience hope.

(Romans 3:23), “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;”

The sad reality of rejecting Jesus as Savior is wrong choices made.  Some people resist change and refuse interference in their comings and goings, because of a haughty spirit or being self-centered.  This nature keeps them adrift in shame and degradation, because they are too proud to ask for help.

The Bible says that pride comes before a fall.  Any person refusing to allow Jesus to man the helm of their sinking ship and to raise the sails of hope in their tossing, misdirected vessel is in trouble.  They will suffer the consequences of bad choices they have made.

To persist in this mindset brings death of the soul after a lifelong struggle to survive.  But it does not have to end this way!  God provided a way out of the tossing billows!  His name is Jesus.  He is the only way that humanity can survive the storms of life that Satan blows their way.  Jesus, alone, is the solid rock that we can anchor to and live.

God gives each of us the ability to choose life or death.  He prefers that we choose life rather than Satan, but the choice is ours to make.  God does not infringe upon any person His will, but allows us to have self-will.  In fact, He is beckoning to those that are in need of a Savior, saying...

(Matthew 11:28-30), “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  vs.29 “”Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  vs.30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

My sails are set and my way is made clear.  Jesus sits at the helm, because He knows the way home.  Senseless drifting is no more.  No longer am I without direction.  God forgave me of my sins and became captain of my ship.  Life is good!

Written by,

Papa Boyd

From Crooked Street to Glory Avenue

When I was a young lad in my early, adolescent years, I remember sitting on an old, wooden pew listening to my dad play his Martin guitar as he sang to a small congregation of people at the church we attended.

One of the songs he loved to sing came to mind the other day of which I was surprised that I remembered the words.  The lyrics found their way to my tongue and I began to sing the chorus.

I cannot recall the title or verses, but the chorus goes something like this.  “I’m glad I moved from Crooked Street to Glory Avenue.  No mortgage on our property, the taxes never come due.  The sun is always shining bright and Mondays never blue.  I’m glad I moved from Crooked Street to Glory Avenue.”

Actually, these few words in the chorus somewhat encapsulate what the Born-again experience holds in store for those that choose to move from Crooked Street where Satan is landlord, to live on Glory Avenue where Jesus abides.

When I lived on Crooked Street, my futile efforts to find happiness in things of the world was relentless and unproductive.  Successes in life were limited as were the ventures I pursued in trying to unearth contentment.  Obtaining peace of mind was fruitless.  Blinded, haphazard experimentation with the corruptness around me proved ineffective in my quest for tranquility; a waste of expelled energy. 

At the end of each day my winding journey availed little with respect to finding self-worth and self-respect.  Quality relationships and feeling a sense of true satisfaction within me could not be found.  Things that occupied my thinking failed to give purpose and fulfillment. 

Old habits kept surfacing as did the nature of my restless personality, which was drowning in a cesspool of covetous living.  As an adult, my unsavory past was one of missed connections and cancelled flights, as it were; confusion that was coupled with heartache; nothing to count on, because I was repeating the same mistakes over and over again, which brought frustration without hope.

Everything I tried failed to translate into true gratification.  It was at this point in my confusion that it seemed I could hear someone knocking at my hearts door.  It was as if I heard the knocker calling my name and saying, “I see you’re in an awful fix, I’ll tell you what to do; I’d move clear off of Crooked Street to Glory Avenue.”

Out of frustration and a sense of “I’ll try anything,” I bowed my knee; repented of my sins and found what I was searching for.  Peace availed itself.  The Holy Spirit immediately relocated me to the block where the rest of my newly acquired family lived—Glory Avenue.

In the short amount of time that it took to pray these words, “Forgive me of my sins” is how long it took God to move me to new surroundings and a new beginning in Christ Jesus.  I became part of the family of God; washed in the fountain of His holiness, and cleansed from sin through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross.

(Revelation 3:20), “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

I’m glad I moved from Crooked Street to Glory Avenue.  I now have a hope and a future.  The peace that was unattainable on Crooked Street is ever present on Glory Avenue.  I have no regrets, because I found Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

(Jeremiah 29:11), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd