Twice now have I climbed my way through this tiny crack of a canyon, both times completely doubting my ability to survive shimmying the walls to safety.
Even though I had already hiked miles upwards, am in decent enough shape to be able to climb, and have the muscle capacity needed to pull myself through the crack, with one look down all confidence was washed away.
I no longer knew what I was doing, what if questions surrounded my every timid footstep, and shaky hands took foreign grasps that were supposed to be certain but now were flushed in fear and unknown.
In the darkness of this tiny, steep canyon I instantly forgot the ability of my body and knowledge of practices and values I had learned long ago.
Is this not true for our faith as well?
In the light we learn, we thrive, we remember, we grow, we know, we practice.
But as soon as we are in the dark all of these concepts are foreign and we are left fumbling around, trying to find our steps and instantly forgetting the ability and concepts we knew to be true in the light.
Practice in the dark what you learned in the light.
The initial fear and unknown of dark and unfamiliar places overwhelms and paralyzes our hearts and minds. We feel incapable, weak, insufficient, uneducated, inexperienced.
If we would only remember what we learned in the light, the values that we thrived in, the practices we were devoted to, the confidence we gained.
Practice in the dark what you learned in the light.
What is the worth in any of this growth in the light however if we don't remember and practice them in the dark and uncomfortable places?
In Luke 1:76-79, Zechariah prophesied before the birth of Jesus saying,
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
and because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Oh how beautiful this passage is to know and trust that light and familiarity will be shed upon us sitting in dark and unfamiliar places. Our feet will be guided into the way of peace and protection.
Practice in the dark what you learned in the light my friends.
Labels: faith, Heart to Heart
