A House with the Light On

As the seasons change and darkness arrives earlier than the long extended sunsets we enjoy in the summer, I find my evening walks take on a different feel. Sometimes when I am out walking in the dark I think about what I would do if, for some reason, I needed help. What if I were injured? Or in a situation where I felt uneasy and needed a safe place to turn? Maybe it is the uncertainty that comes with the darkness, but in these moments I find myself noticing or looking for the homes with a light on – a sign that a caring person might be home, a potential place of refuge.

I think of this as a metaphor in my own life as a youth worker. For many of the young people we work with, we are often that safe place. Some are coming from difficult situations; some are lost or confused; some feel scared and alone. But just as I look for those houses on my walks, so too do I want to be a house with the light on, a safe place to land for the young people in my world. This is an invitation to us all, to be a beacon of light in the midst of a broken and hurting world.

I am also reminded of God’s promises for us, and for the Light that He sent into the world through His Son, Jesus. I pray that no matter what challenges or darkness you may be facing, that you find safety and refuge in His presence today.