Growing up I needed a nightlight in my bedroom. Dark terrors stalked me for quite a while. Probably related to being in a hospital polio clinic at the age of two, while in isolation with lots of other children battling the same disease. I faintly remember the old shades being pulled down, the metal sides of our cribs getting locked in place, the ward lights being turned off, and all of us crying out, feeling like abandoned children surrounded by strangers in an offputting place. No Mommy. No Daddy. No brother or sister. All gone. What further hellions lurk in these shadows? Hence, my nightlight.
On some unidentified mountain, Jesus encounters Moses and Elijah, both deceased yet now very much alive. Peter, John, and James, Jesus' inner circle of His 12 apostles, witness this amazing company of God's Son with the greatest lawgiver and prophet. In addition, Jesus' clothes dazzle and shine (Luke 9: 29). This experience startles the sleeping apostles with brightness around them. A nightlight like no other.
As Peter wakes up, he blurts out an idea--should he make huts for these three special ones, similar to what the Israelites used in their Old Testament desert wanderings for forty years? A good idea, Peter? Not really. But Jesus doesn't come down hard on him just as He doesn't on us for our off-the-wall ideas and plans. Jesus is much more understanding than we imagine. Chew on that this week.
He loves us like He does Peter. So many times the Lord could have landed on me with both feet, yet He prods me to be better. Allows tough times to teach me valuable lessons about living more for Him and others than for myself. Lessons I'm still trying to grasp. By the way, I graduated from Kindergarten last Spring, and am now getting ready for First Grade! Teacher says that progress has been noted.
Inch by inch, I'm letting Jesus be the light of my life. He'll show the way. Just wait on Him. That's the hard part for me, being impetuous like Peter. So, I'm challenged to let His light shine on the path ahead and to follow behind, not pushing my way into the lead. I'm trying, usually the hard way. But He's not done with me yet. Do you want to join me? Letting Jesus' light shine on your path this week?
By the way, I no longer need a nightlight. Any guesses why?
Thank you, Jesus, for being my light in life. Amen.
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