I'll Stay in the Light, Thanks

Halloween. I’ve never been a big fan of the dark, or of the dark side. For instance, while other kids in my neighborhood hurried home from school in 1967 and gathered together to watch the Gothic TV serial “Dark Shadows,” I occupied myself elsewhere. Even so, I heard and saw enough to know what the show was all about: badness, really scary badness, with a capital “B.” Once, when I was about five years old, I tried to get a message to the show’s main vampire, Barnabas Collins, through writing to another famous person, teen idol Bobby Sherman, who had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the show. I guess in my childish head, they both lived somewhere in "Famous People World," so surely they hung out together at Famous People barbecues or something. Was it that unreasonable to ask Bobby for this one favor?

Anyway, I asked Bobby to please tell Barnabas that I did not like him. As fearful as I was of Barnabas, I could be strong through the perceived protection of Bobby-of-the-pink-pants. Yes, I was an offbeat child.

I’ve never been a big fan of Halloween, either, but I’m not as vocal about it anymore. A well-known pastor has suggested that Christians who spend a lot of time protesting what they deem offensive or dangerous might be more productive if they would simply shine their lights in the middle of the darkness. I’m all for shining the Light.

Many of my favorite Bible verses deal with light. One is John 3:19-21:

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Another is John 12:46 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

You’re reading one girl who wants to stay in the Light. Where the Light goes, I want to go. Fortunately, the Light has said he will remain in me, so I never have to face the dark alone. I just feel for certain that the Light of the World is a lot more powerful than Bobby Sherman.

In some circles, darkness is puffing itself up today, but I am not dismayed because light disperses darkness. I think I’d like to celebrate that. Will you magnify the Lord with me today?

Psalm 34:3-8
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Finally, as I go about my business today, I’ll be singing the old DC Talk song, “In the Light,”

I want to be in the light, as You are in the light.
I want to shine like the stars in the heavens.
Oh Lord, be my light, and be my salvation
All I want is to be in the light!



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