Flashlights

It's been years ago, but one night while I rested in the family room of the house after a busy day, the lights suddenly went out.  It was pitch black, because our "street lights" were actually just electric yard lights in each family's yard and they went out too. 

Since there was no storm, no lightning, no thunder and no warning whatsoever, it was hard not to panic in the dark.  Slowly, my eyes started to allow me to see shadows and I made my way up to the kitchen where the flashlight was.  What a relief to find it, and then to find candles and matches and begin to place them here and there in the house.

Lots of cats have been part of our lives.  Only about three of them were "flashlight" cats, the kind that chase the flashlight beam all over the place.  I didn't even know the one cat was a flashlight cat until one night I was looking for Puddin'Head and trained the flashlight along the ground towards the woods.  A streak flew by me and startled me.  It was "Ugly" who chased the beam into the woods without any fear whatsoever.  After that night, I'd bring out the flashlight for him once in a while and let him blow off some steam.  Almost all cats, though, will go after a laser pointer.

Imagine how wonderful a flashlight was for people when it was first manufactured.  It changed things dramatically for miners and campers.  It was 1899 when the patent was registered, and of course, the flashlight's technology has changed from that earliest design to something more durable and reliable.  Soon, the old hurricane lanterns were even designed with batteries so there were less accidents when carrying lanterns about and having the fuel spill and catch fire.  Although it has been debunked as the cause of the Chicago fire since Mrs. O'Leary's cow did not kick over the lantern in the shed, those kinds of things must have happened.

A flashlight casts out the darkness and gives us the security of light.  A flashlight allows us to venture farther away from home and take on a challenge.  A flashlight takes away the fear of the unknown. 

One of the first words you'd hear if the lights went off just about anywhere is, "Does anyone have a flashlight?"

For us who believe in God, He is like that flashlight, casting out darkness and giving us the security of his everlasting love.  He takes away our fears and gives us the light of wisdom.  His strength becomes our strength when we call upon Him. 

Most importantly, we should not store His light in a drawer in the kitchen, only to be brought out in emergencies.  Someone once told me, "There is no crash course in spirituality."  In other words, when the chips are down, it is best that we are prepared by being in good stead with our Creator.  And each day our job is to know, love, and serve God.

Strawberries are ready for picking!!  If you get a chance, head to an orchard and get some.