Historical Darkness

Russ Lawson tells a story of when the Sun didn’t rise back in 1883, in New England. The people awoke to an eerie darkness. They went outside to do their chores in stony silence. No rooster crowed, no birds chirping, none of the usual sounds of a new day. At the very start, people began to gather in small groups to question what was happening, to wonder and discuss what was taking place. Slowly, people began to make their way to the Churches. They say that by twelve noon every Church in New England was filled to overflowing with people on their knees crying out to God. There were cries for mercy, people begging for forgiveness and others confessing their sins. They say that there were few people who didn't pray the day the sun didn't rise. The Churches were full late into the night.

As the next morning neared, great crowds began to gather on the hilltops and the high places near their homes and churches. People were staring toward the eastern horizon. Every eye was fixed on that point where the sky touched the land. Every eye watching, hoping to catch a glimmer of the first rays of the Sun. As the sun began to come up over the horizon, people began to shout and yell praise to God, they clapped, danced and rejoiced because the Sun shined on the land again. As if in one voice, they began to praise the Lord for the sunlight, the warmth and the joy of God's new day.

No news media back then. The people had no idea that on the Island nation of Indonesia, the sleeping giant of a volcano, Krakatoa, had come to life. They had no idea that this great mountain exploded and sent a huge cloud of dust and ash into the upper atmosphere. This black cloud would be carried around the world by the jet stream. It was said to cover whole regions, covering the sky from horizon to horizon. Few people had any idea that a volcano, half way around the world, could create such a cloud that could block out the Sun. Yet for most of those people that was the very first time they ever thanked God for the warmth and wonder of the Sun.

A pearl to string: We’ve had numerous heart wrenching disasters in this world with countless lives lost. We’ve turned our collective hearts toward the Lord for protection, safety and solace. Yet when we feel secure again, like a child who let’s go of their parent’s hand and runs into unsafe territory we have repeatedly let go of the Lord and wondered back into our perilous life styles.

I pray that the eyes of my heart as well as the eyes of your hearts will “Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near”. That we will not be tricked or distracted by the temptations this world has to offer. Amen and amen. (Isaiah 55:6)

Blessings with His love & grace to you all,
Lyndi