Lights Out!

Sometimes after church services, a group of us single women would find something to do. On that particular Sunday, we went open house browsing in affluent neighborhoods. The homes were so palatial. Far more spacious than what any of us were able to afford at the time, but God (we said). From one house to another we ooh and awed before noticing that it was getting dark. For us, that meant the blinds or curtains were going to close for privacy. These owners had no window dressing to use. It was the only thing we found odd, until leaving and saw how dark it was in the entire neighborhood...to the point that if it weren't for the owner leaving that light on in the house, we wouldn't have been able to see backing out of the driveway. There were no streetlights, no personal yard light, no porch lights - nothing. It was explained that the wiring was underground to minimize blackouts during storm season. Oh, we said in unison with a question mark. So they would prefer car accidents instead? 

I was driving through my local neighborhood and noticed in the shopping area, the lights weren't on as they used to be. Even when driving down the street and towards the highway, the street lights are either off or were removed. It was late Autumn and early in the morning, going to my usual cafe was a feat of memory rather than usually seeing the signs and markings on the road indicating where to drive and turn. The drivers had to rely on their own headlights and the headlights of oncoming traffic to navigate getting to our destinations. What has happened? Where has the importance of safety turned into?

In my social services career, I have enjoyed a number of positions which gave me invaluable experience

with groups of people as well as individuals. A job I thoroughly enjoyed was working at a faith based middle school, where the faculty came together first thing in the morning to pray and worship God, It was so wonderful and the absolute perfect way to start every single day. As the children would come and find their perspective classrooms, eventually the children became rambunctious, as children do. Instead of the teachers losing their minds screaming or sending the children to the principal's office, they developed a system of turning off the light. The children's attention was averted and the teacher was allowed to speak and be heard. A funny thing happened when I substituted one of the classes, I finished writing the assignment on the board with instruction. As I placed the chalk down and turned to see if the class was doing the work, one of the students asked me why do the teachers turn off the lights. I paused thinking that most, if not all, of the students came from families belonging to the ministry. But as the question was asked, I saw a few heads look up from what they were doing to hear the answer. How did they not know?

It was the first time I taught a classroom full of children the basic building blocks of Christianity and why we continue to do as we do. "The Lord calls the believer the salt of the earth the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16 AMP). When continual disobedience was in the land, the two that knew only what God said, caused for the land to be cursed and separated the relationship God had with man (Isaiah 59:2 AMP). It was essential for Jesus to be given to the world, for whosoever believing on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. God tells us to let our light shine. God tells us to not hide our candle under a bushel. So then if you are the light of the world and when disobedient you cannot be because you are acting like the sinner, when the teacher turns out the light, she is reminding you of that. Be obedient. You are the light of the world. A necessity." I recall the class being quiet just before the bell rang for them to be dismissed for the next class to come in. The halls were all a buzz. I had no idea that what was said in the small amount of time we had, would become news for the staff in the building. The next class came in and sat upright with their hands folded on top of their desks. I didn't know what to expect. I explained what was on the board for them to complete but they wanted to know what we were talking about in the previous class. When I divulged the information, one of the students asked why did they have to pray and praise God before they could go to class and what is the Holy Spirit? It was fodder for the most interesting class yet. How did they not know? 

In the perspective of Christian dating, I often use the term, common sense out of frustration because if I know it, it has to be simple enough for anyone else to understand it as well. Why wouldn't you allow for street lights to remain on until daybreak or at sunset? Is it more important that the city not be in debt than it is for the safety of the those residing in the city? Is it necessary for there to be some sort of uproar before returning the lights where they were? How much will that cost? It just seems everyone would want the best for the health and welfare for the other. It is what we were created for. Iron sharpens iron is being supportive of the other and where they fall short, you have their back (Proverbs 27:17 AMP). Isn't that common sense anymore?

As believers, do we assume our children will gain the knowledge of the truth through osmosis? Do we think that once they come home from school, it is all they needed to learn for the day? Do you pray together? Do you give God the glory together? Do you at least eat dinner together? These things are necessary for your children to see its importance and pass it on for the next generation. But if you don't do your due diligence, why should they? Why should they grow to be men and women of integrity? Instead they have learned to get by, suppress, pretend and then call it Christianity. Selah.