The Blackout

John 8:12 Jesus tells us, ".....I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

And the Lights went OUT

A few nights ago, around 8 pm, suddenly all the lights went out! Everything went black. But this was a different kind of black. I literally could not see two feet in front of me, trying to feel my way to the kitchen. Because it was SO black, I knew it was BIG, much bigger than a power grid shortage that our neighborhood gets from time to time. Once I got to the kitchen window, I saw darkness for as far as my eyes could see! The street behind my house is on another grid and since their lights were out too, then it was confirmed.....I'd better get prepared for a long night.I wasn't worried about safety or anything else except for the food I prayed I wouldn't lose. Once I found my only working flashlight by feeling around and using the tiny glare of light from my cell phone, I went outside and looked around but saw nothing. It was even silent more than normal. I grabbed my cat, snuggled on the couch and waited......and waited.....I sent a text to a dear friend of mine who lives in another area, in another little town outside of my city, asking for prayers of protection. She responded saying theirs were out TOO! Hmmm, curiously enough, that was even bigger than I'd originally anticipated! So I began to pray......and for whatever reason, John 8:12 came to mind.....but I would soon find out.

Then suddenly, it dawned on me! I started hearing cars up and down the back streets, including mine! People were leaving.....going somewhere else besides their own homes. Escaping, fleeing.....no television. No lights. No video games. No radios. No cell phone chargers. No computers. Nothing but you and God and whomever you might be in the house with at the time of the blackout! I found it satisfying actually to have that silence to be totally alone without any diversions to talk to God! However, the more cars I'd hear, the more I realized just how much everyone was reliant on electricity! Don't get me wrong, I AM TOO! But because it wasn't a major storm or a winter white out, I didn't think it would be for days and it was beyond my control anyway. I couldn't do anything about it so why get upset and worry about something you can't change. If it stayed like this for days, then worry....but remember, God tells us to only concern ourselves with  TODAY because tomorrow is NOT guaranteed to us!

And so I do. I just took advantage of this time to talk to God....to ask Him for some clarity on some issues I was having in my life, and to comfort me during this time. I remembered His promises to be there with me and I felt His peace wash over me. It was at that moment that I realized why the above verse was given to me....because most people were leaving and fleeing because they were relying on their own resources. They weren't turning to God for comfort, peace or clarity. They feared those things they couldn't see and they relied way too much on technology! I say technology because people are overstimulated on technology to the point of the exclusion of human contact and interaction! I've known people who couldn't go for more than a few hours without a computer, a video game, a television or whatever their vice of choice is, and their attitudes showed that too! Life needs to slow down.....A LOT! More people need to be pointing their noses UPWARDS towards the heavens, instead of sticking them in the worldly things that are pulling them away from seeking His Face! Then, three hours later, the lights came on!

The next day at work, it was the talk of the area. I told my Resource Center associates the funny story I pulled from the whole experience. Roughly 45 minutes into the blackout, I thought about going for a ride around town to see how far this actually was and take a look around. I ALMOST did but it dawned me AGAIN....the electric is out, my garage is electric and my garage door is older so it's stubborn. I couldn't physically open it by hand and obviously with the electric out, couldn't use my garage door opener so I was STUCK! We all got a good laugh but I'm sure this was a purposeful thing to keep me there to talk to God and to listen to what He had to say! Sadly, I wished more people were doing what I was doing. But as the blackout was being talked about throughout the day, I was surprised at how many people mentioned the different technology gadgets they missed.....really! In Psalm 46:10 it reads, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" But somehow, that's not what I felt was happening on that dark, silent night.

So, I continued to pray and talk to God, when a thought crossed my mind....still referencing the John 8:12 verse....what if God allowed this massive 1.5 to 3 hour blackout to get some people's attention? By taking away the technology and all the diversions that go along with it, maybe this would force some, not all, to think just how much emptiness they really have in their hearts, and lives, because it's void of the Love of God, the Voice of God and the Hand of God! Maybe God needed to slow some people down so they COULD hear Him calling their names. So they could hear Him SPEAK! I prayed for this because there is NOTHING in this world that is more important than God Almighty in His! Think about what chaos would ensue should there be a total blackout in the whole WORLD! Could people stay calm enough to let God do what He does best? Take care of our needs! Protect us! Love us! Shine His Light through us? All of this life will pass away.....but His love will never die!