Are You Afraid of the Dark?

My three youngest boys are terrified of the dark. Our house has a long narrow hallway with their bedroom at the end. Plus, Allie and I are obsessive about turning out lights in rooms we're not in. So, almost every night they must inevitably traverse a pitch-black hallway to reach their bedroom. This is something they will not do. If I tell Olan, my seven-year-old, to head off to bed he will peek into the hallway, tentatively look back at me, then the hallway, then me, then the hallway, and say, "It's... it's dark dad." He will not traverse the dark hallway on his own, and this is a hill he will die on. But there is a solution! If his mother or I walk with him, he finds the courage to walk with us to the light switch located about halfway down the corridor.

I'm not sure why darkness is so terrifying to us. Even though most of my irrational fears about the dark have subsided, you put me in a place I don't feel safe when it's dark, and I'm going to be far more scared than if it was daylight. There is something innate in us that does not like the dark. That is why it is so comforting that Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

If I told Olan there was a way that he would never have to walk in darkness again, that is a deal he would take in a second! I think it's the same for all of us. We know as adults we will walk through dark times, but when we have Jesus, we have The Light to traverse the dark hallways of life.

This Christmas Eve we are celebrating the Light of Life entering the world with a special candlelight service. Tomorrow evening, we will sing carols, I'll preach a message, will take communion, and conclude Advent with the lighting of our candles. This is a wonderful time to invite friends and family.

I hope you will worship with us tomorrow evening at 5 PM.

Ps. Remember, there is no corporate worship service on Christmas, but I encourage you to worship at home with family or friends.