Sometimes, I was Afraid

As a young boy, I wasn’t afraid of the dark … but sometimes I was.

I could not tell you what changed on those days. Instead of lying in bed and thinking of the fun I would have at elementary school the next day, I would pull my blanket up to my chin. Instead of looking forward to soccer training, my eyes would dart around my dark room, searching for potential danger.

On summer nights, the evenings would be little cooler than the day, and my room would be pretty warm. I still hid under my blanket, sweating, fearing whatever I thought I had to guard myself against.

Now, as a grown man, I am still not afraid of the dark, not even sometimes.

I venture to guess that I’m not the only one who had these fears as a kid.

And I think it is good like that.

As a child, I SHOULD be wary of darkness.

Think about it. Darkness allows the unknown to hide right in front of my face; it allows me to get lost when my path could be clearly visible in the light of day. There certainly is a potential danger that lurks in the dark.

Obviously, little 6-year-old me was safe in his room, but children’s minds don’t work that logically – or at least mine didn’t.

The bottom line is that darkness hides things. It obscures them, making their silhouettes appear as something they are not.

This description does not just apply to darkness that passes over the physical world when the sun sets or the blinds are closed. In the realm of thoughts, ideas, and spirit, there is a darkness that obscures reality and conceals the Truth as well. A lie, for instance, does this. When I lie, I use a veil, like darkness, to hide something from another person.

It is under the cover of physical darkness that most crimes occur because they can be hidden. And it is under the cover of spiritual darkness that most immoralities happen … because they can be hidden.

If I am doing something that I will later have to lie about to those I trust most, I must seriously reconsider my actions. They are likely not good, virtuous, or God-honoring.

So today, as long as I live in the light, I do not fear darkness.

As long as I live according to my convictions, display behavior I do not wish to hide, can confidently speak the truth, and walk as Christ to the best of my ability – I do not fear darkness.

But what happens when I betray my conscience and go against my convictions?

What happens when I lie to conceal something?

What happens when I stop following Christ to do not what He asks of me, but what I want to do?

Then, I start to love the dark and fear the light.

For, darkness hides my actions, and light reveals them.

I am then like a thief, using the cover of night to act unrighteously.

Perhaps this ancient quote, often attributed to Plato, says it best:

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

Today’s message is this:

Recognize when you fear the light and prefer the veil of darkness. Conduct yourself in a manner that demands your every word and every action be worthy of standing confidently in broad daylight.

'Caveman' - but with manners (at least some)