Following the Light

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.

                         Isaiah 9:2 (NRSV)

This text is part of the lectionary reading for Sunday, January 26 which features Isaiah 9:1-4.  If it sounds familiar it is because Isaiah's ninth chapter is also featured for the Christmas Eve readings.

The theme of light fits well with the season after the Epiphany where we see the light of Christ shining into our lives.

Within the Gospel text for Sunday (Matthew 4:12-23), this passage from Isaiah is also quoted.  We see Jesus gearing up for his public ministry and he begins to call disciples to follow him.  

As I considered what it would mean to follow Jesus within this theme of light, I was reminded of a trust walk our small group took at camp this summer.  An ordinary trust walk includes a blindfolded individual and their sighted partner.  The seeing person then leads the "blind" person around the camp, calling out obstacles and obstructions.

This is not a simple trail when you can see!

Since we had seniors in our group who had already experienced this at camp, we decided to increase the level of difficulty.  We took a tougher trail (off path) up the side of the hill to the cross.  It was not easy and we came to a place where we had to step across a small chasm.  Each of the youth that were sighted had to work together to ensure a safe crossing for those that couldn't see.  I gave those blinded an out but each of them chose to continue to the top.  It was an achievement for the entire group and it felt good when we finished the hike.

Coulton Parker helps
Morgan Wilson up the trail.

Was this what the first disciples who followed Jesus felt like? They may have been in the dark in the beginning but felt that they trusted Jesus enough to drop their lives and follow him.  Just as my journey with Jesus has included highs and lows, I believe that the same was true for the disciples.  In fact, the disciples may not have really seen the light until the resurrection.

How does following Jesus for modern disciples today reflect our trust and our willingness to work with others to ensure we all reach the mountaintop?

This Sunday's worship at Piedmont and Cashion United Methodist Churches will be looking at what it means to follow the light.  Join us if you don't have a church home!  

In Christ,

Sam