Exposure to the Light

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, ESV).

I love naps. I’m not a marathon napper, though. I like to doze for about 20 to 30 minutes, and almost always, I wake up feeling refreshed. My Friday routine typically consists of a nap after lunch. It helps me reset, and step into the second half of my day ready to embrace what’s next.

When it’s power nap time, I like to “set the mood”, so to speak. I eliminate as much light as possible, and settle in my chair to relax a bit with the TV volume on low. Recently, after rising from a nap, I opened the front door as I prepared to head out for some afternoon exercise. 

The light came flooding in from the sunshine, and immediately, I was reminded that light exposes everything. I grabbed my broom, and swept up the floor. I pulled out the vacuum to run it across the carpet in the living room. I dusted the top of the buffet in the living room. Admittedly, I am not the best housekeeper. I don’t live in filth, of course, but I am typically good at ignoring the dust until it is exposed directly to the light, and I’m reminded of what I need to clean up.

I’d be much better off if I was intentional to expose my areas to the light on a regular basis in a way that motivates me to clean up the messes. That’s true for the spaces in my home, but it’s even more true for the spaces in my heart that I tend to try and keep hidden in the dark. 

If I’m feeling frustrated, instead of sweeping those emotions under the rug, I need to call a trusted friend, express my emotions in a healthy way, and then move on.

If I’m feeling lonely, instead of sitting alone in the dark, I need to get my body moving, and expose myself to some vitamin D and endorphin release that comes with exercise. 

If I’m feeling shame, I need a safe space to process with the intention of figuring out the root cause of the feelings, and pointing myself back to the saving grace of the cross.

When I nap, I get myself in a comfortable position to rest, but I also know I can’t stay there all day. It’s not good for me physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. It’s also super important that we are mindful of what recesses of our hearts and souls we’re allowing to stay in the dark. 

In order to allow Jesus to heal, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zones, and do whatever it takes to allow light into the dark spaces. John 8:12 reminds us: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

Let’s all take inventory today. Maybe we start with exposing light to the spaces in our homes that need to be cleaned up, but instead of stopping there, may we consider what it looks like to let the light of Christ enter into the dark spaces of our hearts. When we choose to follow Him, we will not walk in darkness, but can live a life of light with Christ. And it’s far better than anything else we can ask for or imagine.