March 22nd, Monday, Fifth Week of Lent

Daniel 13: 1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, John 8: 12-20

In today’s gospel, Jesus says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. What darkness is keeping me from having the light of life? Where do I experience the light of God in this world?

Darkness comes and goes in my life. Actually, the degree of darkness and the extent of God’s light in my life changes all the time. Darkness takes on many forms in my life. Darkness happens when I excessively worry and stress out. This worry grows in intensity and I get lost. I grow anxious, confused and hopeless. It consumes me. It physically feels like darkness (the light is growing dim) is surrounding me.

Other times darkness comes when I’m excessively busy and lose myself in my work. It consumes me. My relationships suffer. The darkness grows as I let my schedule control me. I feel stretched, tired and lonely.

Ironically, darkness sometimes comes when I think I “have it all together”! It comes when I feel like I’m on top of the world and “I’m making things happen”. This high feeling consumes me. I feel superior, full of myself and in control.

Thank God (literally) these periods of darkness are followed by moments or periods of the light of God. The darkness eventually breaks and I begin to see the light of God again. This break often times is the response to a cry for God’s help for being hopeless, lonely, or when I can no longer control. The light grows when I turn my worries over to God for answers and don’t try to solve them on my own. The light grows when I make time for God through prayer and nurture the relationships in my life. The light of God continues to grow and burn when I let go, pray regularly and try to do God’s will to the best of my ability!

Sue Smedinghoff, small business consultant and corporate trainer, married, parishioner for 14 years .