Look to the Light

My last blog carried a bigger irony than I expected in its mention of "storm water" vs. "living water." Hurricane Ike damaged, among other facilities, the city's water treatment plant; and for a couple of days Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous lines "Water, water everywhere/Nor any drop to drink" were uncomfortably close to reality for millions of Houstonians.

Water service is, thankfully, restored now; but only about half the city has gotten back that other everyday utility, electricity. Going without electric power means, to me personally: using the laundromat because the washing machine doesn't work; taking cold showers (not to mention putting off washing dishes and other things that need hot water) because the water at my apartment is electrically heated; being able to eat refrigerated foods only in restaurants because ice supplies melt faster than a package can be consumed; and having to go to the public library (which took a while getting its power back) before I can check my e-mail or do anything else online. Which is the main reason this blog went six days without a new entry.

Actually, having no power isn't all bad as long the weather is decent. (Certainly better than the last major hurricane-induced power outage twenty-five years ago, which came a month earlier in the year while the outdoors was consistently sultry.) After all, we get a few extra days off, not to mention some unofficial National Nights Out. But once the night really settles in, being without electricity means one other thing: going to bed and getting up more or less with the sun. Light a candle or switch on a flashlight as you will, no weaker substitute really satisfies once you're used to modern electric light.

Imagine what it must have been like to live a few centuries ago when the only "night lights" were fires from lanterns and torches. There's something inherently frightening about the dark, about not being able to see what might be in your way--or what might be sneaking up on you. Small wonder that the Scriptures associate evil with darkness and God with light. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5, NIV).

The following poem is the only one I have written that, to date, has been set to music (with slightly different lyrics) and performed for an audience--specifically, for a small group service at Wheaton Graduate School about ten years ago. I regret that I have lost the music and the name of the composer--if anyone reading this remembers either, please let me know!

All Creation had its beginning
From a darkness more black than night;
Our God spoke to create the world we know--
And the first thing He made was light.

Look to the Light
When the world seems lost in darkness;
Look to the Light
When it seems that hope is gone;
Look to the Light
When you feel your faith is failing;
Look to the Light
And find strength to carry on.

When the whole world writhed blind, despairing,
When the fullness of time had come,
There came One Who was called the Light of all;
There came One Who was called God's Son.

Look to the Light
When the world seems lost in darkness;
Look to the Light
When it seems that hope is gone;
Look to the Light
When you feel your faith is failing;
Look to the Light
And find strength to carry on.

When He died on a cross in anguish
It seemed darkness had crushed the Light;
But in three days' time He returned to life:
Now His light shines forever bright.

Look to the Light
When the world seems lost in darkness;
Look to the Light
When it seems that hope is gone;
Look to the Light
When you feel your faith is failing;
Look to the Light
And find strength to carry on.

Look to the Light
When the world seems lost in darkness;
Look to the Light
When it seems that hope is gone;
Look to the Light
When you feel your faith is failing;
Look to the Light
And find strength to carry on.