The Cooling Stream

Early morning 6 o'clock. It was Saturday weekend. As usual, we had our morning 6 km walk.

The sky was dark and cold when we left home. Traffic on the road was light. We had the road mostly to ourselves. Nonetheless I drove slowly and carefully, keeping within the rules.

As before, we were not the first ones to arrive, since we never planned to.

There is always the eerie and unsettling feeling when left alone in an unfamiliar and dark place. Sometimes I wondered if this had to do with childhood fear and anxiety.

We began our walk with a prayer. We prayed for safety, fine weather, and fruitful exercises.

I led the way and my wife followed closely behind.

It was a slow start. We had to grope in the darkness in certain places. The streetlights were few and dim. Then, there was this scary thought and feeling that people might attack us.

The sky slowly grew brighter. Everything began to look clearer. Then we saw the beautiful scenery and people. Then the birds chirped and sang. The morning had broken. I saw the distant sky, the green hills, and the blue mountains. I heard the sound of acceleration and deceleration of vehicles. Darkness had finally been lifted.

It was a welcoming moment for us. Finally we were walking in the light of the morning sun.

*******

Most of us I presumed don't enjoy darkness.

It is never easy to grope in the dark.

We really need clear and proper guidance. We badly need the light.

Then come the morning sun, growing brighter and brighter, revealing things hidden and unknown.

Now everything in full view. Now we walk confidently with firm strides.

*******

Life is always difficult when we don't know our way and our destiny.

We have to grope and find in the dark. Sometimes, It can be very scary and uncertain.

*******

Then God shows us the Way. Everything becomes clearer now.

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

*******

Some of us find God's light and God's calling for them in the Holy Scriptures, in the powerful worship, in God's gifts and talents, in God's works and services, in communion and mission, in fasting and prayer, etc.

It doesn't matter.

Each of us may see God in different lights.

Just go after Him and follow Him closely behind.

*******

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Let us continue to work in the Light.

Let us continue our work produced by faith, our labor prompted by love, and our endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)

May the God of Light continue to show you the Way to Him.