Our younger son, Jacob, recently renewed his hunting license in time for bow season. He has two small tree stands on property we own that had fallen into disrepair, but just before Helene, he and his dad replaced the tether straps and made them ready for deer season. He placed trail cameras which quickly confirmed our suspicion that deer weren’t the only wildlife in those woods. Coyotes showed up in several shots as well. We have walked trails my husband cleared with our Danes for the past four and a half years. On occasion, we’ve spooked deer bedded down in the underbrush. By way of our walking trails, it’s a good clip between his stands, but Paul cut more branches and tied trail markers on trees along a direct line from one stand to the other. On our last walk he told me I’d be surprised by how quickly the new trail brought us home. He was right. The turn out of the woods came up so abruptly, I sidled past it several yards before he called for me to turn back. We were home in under a minute.
A few mornings into the blackout after Helene, Jacob woke at 4:30 to enjoy an early morning hunt. Donning his bow and quiver of broad head arrows, he left the road by the path directly in front of our house. Not wanting to disturb us or our neighbors , he waited until he had gained cover before switching on his scope light. He had made it to the first of his trail markers when his light failed. He turned it off and back on but it immediately shut off again. Confident that he could make his way by feel, he pressed on. Hands outstretched, he ducked low hanging limbs, following the slope of the ground steadily downward. He recounts stumbling several times and tripping over roots before recognizing he had left the trail entirely.
Turning in an uphill direction, he attempted to retrace his steps. At one point, his quiver snagged on briers or brush and upended. Shrugging it off with plans to return after daybreak to retrieve it, he continued upward in the pitch black of night. What little light the moon afforded was completely obscured by the still green tree canopy. After what seemed like an hour, he stumbled out onto the paved road half a mile or so from our house. The walk back was an easy one but his mood was irreparably dampened. First light was closing in and he wouldn’t have time to gain his stand before the deer were on the move. He would try again another day.
“The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.”
Proverbs 4:18-19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.4.18-19.NLT
It’s a truly helpless feeling to walk in complete darkness. I have perpetually bruised shins from trying not to fully open my eyes when I’m up during the night, but in the aftermath of the hurricane that ripped through the mountains and upstate of North and South Carolina, the darkness was absolute. Standing outside, the night sky sprinkled with usually invisible stars was stunning. Inside the usually well lit house when the generator had to be shut down for refueling, the familiar quickly became unfamiliar. One evening I ended up on my hands and knees on the ottoman because I forgot about the dog’s bed between me and my comfortable chair. I stepped overconfidently and grabbed at midair, thankful to find the ottoman and not the hardwood.
Most evenings my eyes adjust to the darkness gradually, but there were a few nights after the storm when I literally couldn’t make out my hand in front of my face. The baby monitors that alert us to sound and motion of wakeful grandchildren were not functional so we spread ourselves around the house to keep watch while they slept, lanterns at the ready. Most nights we slept soundly and it was refreshing to be wakened by the sunlight instead of an alarm. I found it freeing to wake up knowing there was no place to go except outside. Of course I am mindful of those whose jobs continued on, some at a dizzying pace, in the aftermath of this unprecedented hurricane and I am grateful, but it does not diminish the joy I found in the unhurried pace of the days without electricity.
The Bible refers to two kingdoms, ever at odds: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of Light. “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” (1 John 1:5) In His eternal kingdom, they will never need the light of the sun or a lamp because the Lord God will shine on them,(Revelation 22:5) and His kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:33)
“The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.”
Proverbs 13:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.13.9.NLT
“What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,” meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life.
He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked.
They are like chaff blown away by the wind.
The wicked will not endure the day of judgment, for God will not defend them.
Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long, for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous!
The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.”
Psalms 1:1-6 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/psa.1.1-6.TPT
“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”
John 12:46 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.12.46.NLT
“In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
John 1:1, 3-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.1.1-5.NLT
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world.
If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.””
John 8:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.8.12.NLT
“Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer.
Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you.
Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.
Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
John 12:35-36 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.12.35-36.NLT
“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant?
If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God.
But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.”
Isaiah 50:10-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.50.11.NLT
As long as earth endures, His invitation stands. Yet a day is coming, drawing ever near according to the signs Jesus gave His first followers, and we cannot know the day or the hour. We only have His command to be ever ready for when His kingdom comes, the kingdom of darkness will be no more.
“yet there will be continuous day!
Only the Lord knows how this could happen.
There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light.
And the Lord will be king over all the earth.
On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.”
Zechariah 14:7, 9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/zec.14.9.NLT
“If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.6-7.NLT
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you.
Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
Don’t participate in the things these people do.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.
So live as people of light!
For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible.
This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
So be careful how you live.
Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.
Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:1-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.5.1-20.NLT
“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.
May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.
He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
Colossians 1:11-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.1.11-14.NLT
“Let these be the words that you hold on to
You are loved
Chosen
Long before the day you were born
You are held
Forgiven
Treasured more than you’ll ever know
When the lies get loud
Let the truth ring out
Till the only thing you’re listening to
Is what He says about you
And If the hands
That gave you a heartbeat
Are the same hands that painted the stars
Then child of the one true God
Tell me how could you not
Believe”
Lyrics by Unspoken
What He Says About You
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