In the Dark

 The phrase, "being kept in the dark", speaks to the idea that someone is purposefully not being given the whole story in a given situation. This could range from not telling someone that the reason they are to arrive at a location at a certain time is because there is a surprise birthday party planned in their honor, all the way up to some type of hidden agenda created to deceive or mask ulterior plans. I recently had an encounter with a dark closet that illuminated my perception of this poignant, little phrase.

I enjoy the stillness of the early morning. No TV, no music, low lamp lighting, and limited distractions make it a perfect setting to study, meditate, listen, and pray. I function well in the calming darkness of the predawn hours, even when a room in our home is dark, I get around well without stubbing my toe or tripping over an errant toy or stuffy left by one of the grandkids. Paradoxically, I have reached that stage in life where reading glasses are a must. My overall vision is still good, but magnifying the print in a book or paper is my norm today. I have a pair of readers sitting near my devotional spot, in my vehicle, in a drawer at work, and one that I keep hung around my neck as I move about my day. I've gotten so used to wearing my "readers" that many times I'll just push the glasses down towards the tip of my nose and just look out over my glasses when I'm looking at something beyond print that I can see adequately without the aid of magnification. 

One particular morning, I had started my devotional time when I realized I needed a new journal out of my closet. I hopped up and strolled into the spare bedroom to retrieve the book from our closet. I didn't think to turn on the light because I was pretty sure I knew exactly where my stash of journals was located. The darkness of the closet surprised me a bit as I struggled more than I anticipated. At that moment during my struggle to find the writing journal in the dark closet, I realized I still had my glasses on. In a moment of clarity amongst the darkness of the closet, the epiphany struck me that my glasses would not be of any assistance as long as I was "kept in the dark". The readers that level my eyesight to near 20/20 vision were of no assistance when there was no light to assist my ability to see. I suppose this was my "Aha" moment from God for today's Flat Tire Ministries moment. We can have the best vision possible, but still not be able to see if we are overtaken by the dark. 

For our purpose today, darkness refers to anything that keeps us from seeing more clearly the truth of our life's current situation or anything that obstructs our decision making process. In our mind we may believe we are living in accordance with God and His plan for the life we are called to live, but could it be that darkness has decreased our ability to see the reality of our situation? Jesus shared a parable about two men who had two completely different views of their personal faith and relationship with God. In the Gospel of Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells of a Pharisee and a tax collector who both came to the temple to pray about their salvation. Pharisees were religious members of society who lived a legalistic, holier than thou, lifestyle before, during, and after the death of Jesus. When I say "holier than thou" what I am saying is that the Pharisees were definitely "religious", but their strict adherence to the commands of the Old Testament made them unwilling to accept anything or anyone that was not in direct compliance with the Bible as they interpreted it. Tax collectors on the other hand were despised by the vast majority of people in Jesus' day because of the persecution and heavy burden their tax collecting efforts had on the average family. In the parable, the Pharisee approached the temple with this arrogant prayer, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." Luke 18:11-12. On the other hand, the tax collector, in a repentant stance, stayed back away from the temple and cried out, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" Luke 18:13. Jesus proceeded to share "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 18:14. Standing the two characters from this parable beside each other with their bio below their picture it would appear easy to choose which one was justified in their faith. Yet, the Pharisee, in his mind, was better than those who weren't as religiously lawful than himself, which made him better than others that were deemed less religious. The tax collector, by definition, would have been seen as a sinner beyond sinners, yet his recognition of his own sin ladened life provided him with forgiveness and salvation. I think it is safe to say the Pharisee's legalistic faith created a situation where he was in the dark about the reality of his judgmental arrogance. 

As I reflected on my "walk in the dark" experience, it came to me that we have to be careful to not allow ourselves to start thinking we are better than others or that we are right and "they" are wrong when it comes to matters that we should not be attempting to be the judge and jury in. Our job is to remain humble, accepting all others just as Jesus modeled, and rather than judging others leave that to the One that will not only judge others, but will also judge the life that you and I live. Jesus reminds us that judging others isn't our job in Matthew 7:3-5, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye', when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Clearly, just as it is being in a dark closet, if you have a plank in your eye you can't see clearly. 

My daily prayer is to remain humble and non-judgmental in my walk of faith. I am a sinner and only by and through the grace of God am I saved. I pray that the love I show for all mankind resembles the agape type of love that Jesus taught about and displayed to all mankind. Amen

 Coach Carter