5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (NKJV)

I don’t remember much about the seven days following Labor Day in 1952. I spent those days in an Isolation Ward at the old University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha. Because it was not known if polio was or was not contagious, all polio patients were placed in this ward, with NO visitors allowed. I don’t remember much about the days but the nights were terrible. As I recall, the room was in total darkness. When the nurses, orderlies or aides would enter the room, they would use a flashlight. Sometimes they moved slowly from bed to bed as they checked on us. Sometimes the movements were frantic and hurried when the breathing of a patient became difficult. However, they moved, the flashlights would cause shadows to bounce across the walls opposite my bed. They were frightening. They were monsters. They were people breaking in through the windows. Later I was told that some stage of being delirious was common. This seemed to continue hour after hour even though I probably would sleep a little now and then. Then the first rays of light from the slowly rising sun would creep in through the windows and slowly but surely those frightening monsters and horrible people began to fade away. The light came and I felt safe.

Our hearts are filled with darkness and we are often afraid. Sin enters our heart and brings along all of the monsters such as fear, helplessness, loss of self respect and on and on. As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and he also speaks to us -- When the world was in total darkness at the time of Creation, God caused the light to shine through the darkness. "God said, Let there be Light and there was Light." It is this same Light that shines into our darkened heart, chases the monster of sin away that we might have the knowledge of the Glory of God. Open your heart and invite the Light of God to creep in.

WE PRAY: Lord, sometimes the troubles of the world and my sin converge upon me with a darkness that wants to engulf me. Let the Light of your Love and Saving Grace creep in and the darkness and shadows fade away. AMEN

I have mentioned this before. It is so important that I will probably suggest it many more times. Each evening review your day. Where you see you have sinned, confess it to God and place that sin in His Hands as you ask for forgiveness. This will allow God’s Light to penetrate the darkness.