READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 4: 6-12
For God, who said, “let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light, is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (V.6)
Long winters and holidays normally brought a spike in the number of suicides reported to the police. People trying to cope with failed marriages or personal relationships; economic pressure from lost jobs; long term or life threating diseases or illness; PTSD; or those who had lost their feeling of self-worth and could see no reason to continue living their tormented lives, succumb to despair and depression and elect to exercise the “end it all option.” The light of hope had been extinguished by the cup of despair.
Unfortunately, I responded to many of these tragic self-initiated life ending events during my police career. However, the most gut wrenching was being called to handle the one involving my former bosses’ wife. He was the Chief of the Investigative Services Bureau, and I had been his Administrative Sergeant. Over time, we had developed a personal relationship that transcended our differences in rank making this situation emotionally difficult. His wife had been ill for a number of years and was confined to the four walls of their house. The Chief, ever the faithful loving husband, tended to her as a true servant of the Lord. He only left her to go to work or for any occasional bass fishing trip on the Potomac River. Although she could get emotionally depressed by her illness, the Chief never imagined he would come home from work and find her deceased behind the wheel of their car in a garage filled with carbon monoxide. A few days later, this petit beautiful lady, who had lost her will to live, was laid to rest in a small rural Virginia cemetery illuminated by bright sunshine. Jesus had welcomed her home with rays of sunlight that can never be darkened.
The Apostle Paul wrote, from personal experience, that we can often feel pressed in on all sides by troubles. This compromises our ability to live peacefully. His words, of over two thousand years ago, do not ring hollow in our ears as the dawning of each day has the potential to bring with it enough trials and tribulations to overflow a bucket of despair. But take hope. God will never abandon those who seek him. He is the one who will empty our buckets of despair and depression and refill them with eternal hope and everlasting life. The face of Jesus gives radiant visibility to our Father’s gracious love and mercy which keeps the darkness of despair away from our soulful doorsteps.
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Look to Christ to light the way through our dark moments in life. Know Jesus and know light and hope! Model Jesus and give light and hope!
Dear Jesus, nothing can ever separate us from your love and the abiding grace of your Father. Shine like a beacon of light into my life and allow me to reflect your light unto others.