Light

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I often think of it at this time of year. Light and Christmas go together. I have heard songs about light in numerous venues. But Jesus and his “light” is what is on my mind.

Those last verses (verses 4-5) leap out at me. Jesus is the source of life. I am not thinking of the disease I have here. I am thinking of the disease we are all born with, which has much longer consequences. We are born in spiritual darkness, and, if not enlightened, we will continue to grope along, doing what “inthedark” people do. Inthedark people do not know they are in the dark. They simply know what they have experienced, and get along as best they can. Usually that means emulating what they know or believe other inthedark people are doing or believing. Most are not willfully in the dark. They do not know there is another option.

Jesus is that option. He is the light. But he is so different (bright!) that inthedark folks cannot understand this new way of living until they embrace it. It is the job of every Christ-follower to help inthedark people become intheLight people.

Most of us still wear spiritual shades (“we see through a glass darkly,” Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13), but we can see. We won’t fully comprehend the light until eternity. Christians have made some terrible misjudgments about life and conduct, and tried to blame it on His light. Yet the blame resides in those shades we wear.

His life is the light of men. What a difference in individual lives, and in our world could be, if we really let His light guide us. Light is a friend. Light gives guidance. Light helps us avoid obstacles that are otherwise unseen. Light allows us the privilege of seeing others who are on the same road as ourselves. People who have experienced the true light never want to go back to the darkness again. “In Him was light, and that light was the light of men.” Only Jesus is that kind of light.

Health Update...
I have nearly completed the meds for cycle three (one more treatment on Thursday) and I am still tolerating the meds well, which is a huge praise. However, the doctor has noted that my progress against the disease has not been as significant as they had hoped, so as soon as I have insurance approval and the insurance companies special pharmacy can get it to me, I will add another med to the chemo cocktail. Starting a new med is always a step into the unknown, so continue to pray for me to be healed, to tolerate this new drug well, and that progress against the disease will be made. Most of all, pray that all this will be to God's glory.

Additionally, please pray for us as we look ahead to the Stem Cell transplant. My insurance company only approves a couple of hospitals in Atlanta, none in Augusta. The treatment is available in Augusta, and we are seeking that, for family and support systems sake. But we know that Father knows and sees beyond what we can see, and so we want to be open to whatever door he opens or closes.