THE LIGHT IN DARK PLACES

LORD...THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S OBJECT LESSON...

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF IT AS ONE UNTIL JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO...

AND OF COARSE, AT A TIME WHEN IT'S QUIET...NO TV...HUBBIES IN BED, AND I CAN FEEL ALONE WITH YOU...

SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TAKING THE DOG OUT...

SHE HATES THE RAIN...THE WET GRASS...

STRANGE...HUBIE BROUGHT ME A FLASH LIGHT...

I'VE BEEN WALKING ANNIE FOR HOW LONG?

BUT TONIGHT HE THINKS I NEED A FLASH LIGHT...

OK.....

OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR AND OFF WE WENT...

BACK IN A FLASH...

DOWN WITH THE GARAGE DOOR...

LAID THE FLASH LIGHT DOWN TO WIPE ANNIE'S FEET...

LIGHTS OUT!...PITCH BLACK!

COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING...

PANIC...WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHT?

DID SOMEONE GET IN WHILE I WALKED ANNIE...

I COULDN'T MOVE...

AFRAID TO FEEL MY WAY...SOMEONE MIGHT BE THERE IN THE DARK...

"STEP FORWARD...YOU CAN SEE." (THAT STILL SMALL VOICE COMMANDED)

I CLOSED MY EYES IN THE DARK...REACHED OUT AND

SLOWLY FELT MY WAY ACCORDING TO AN INNER LIGHT,

LIGHT THAT ONLY FAITH CAN SEE...

LIGHT THAT FAITH CAN MOVE IN...

I CAN'T BELIEVE, THAT I DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO TURN AROUND

AND FEEL FOR THE FLASH LIGHT THAT WAS RIGHT

THERE ON THE SHELF BESIDE ME...

I CAN JUST HEAR ONE OF MY GRAND-CHILDREN SAYING, "DUUUUUH"

THE FEAR REMAINED MY COMPANION,

UNTIL I FOUND MY WAY TO THE LIGHT SWITCH...

BUT I "HEARD YOUR VOICE LORD"...

I TRUSTED YOUR LOVE, AND IT CAST OUT FEAR...

LORD...NEVER STOP TEACHING ME

I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN..STRENGTHEN MY FAITH

HELP MY UNBELEIF...I'M NOT A CHILD...WHO HAS TO FEAR THE DARK.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT IN MY DARK PLACES .

I NEED NOT FEAR EVIL.

YOU WILL WALK WITH ME AND LEAD ME THROUGH...