There’s something uneasy about darkness. The darker the setting the more ominous it feels. You’ll never see a haunted house that is fully illuminated. All of those scary movies have an intense moment when the lights grow dim that clue you in to a terrifying experience that’s just around the corner. Darkness can be simply defined as the absence of light. The less light, the more dim a situation becomes. The more dim a situation is, the less hope is found there.
As terrifying as a dark room can be in a haunted house, it’s more devastating when that darkness affects someone you know and love. In a recent visit with a family member I noticed something that sent chills down my spine. I walked into the kitchen as I do twice a week, but this time something was different. The room was dim. All of the lights were on but there was a darkness that was looming.
As I looked into their eyes, the glow that has always defined them was growing dim. It wasn’t dark. The light was still there, but the light was lessening in its intensity. There was a war going on inside them. It is a battle between light and darkness, and it appears that darkness is winning this fight. If you know someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, you know well the reality of watching the lights slowly grow dim. The loved ones with whom you interact are there smiling as they always have but something is different. The light of their life and memory is growing dim.
I’ve never been a fan of darkness. As a child, I did everything I could to stay out of the dark. I had a nightlight in the hallway and likely one in my room as well. Before one light was turned off, I had already flipped the switch on the next one. We don’t like darkness, none of us really do. The darker a situation, the more likelihood of disaster or terror.
As I looked into the eyes of these people I love so dearly, I felt a swell of emotion come over me. Light and darkness where waging a war inside their minds and darkness was winning. I started to feel defeated. I began to wonder what was God thinking. Why would this disease even be allowed? When someone has difficulty recognizing their own children and grandchildren, darkness is in the driver seat. And the worst part about it – there’s nothing we can do!
We try to jog memories. We patiently retell stories to bring back a spark in hopes that it will trigger a new fire of memories. But it never really happens. We answer the same
questions dozens of times, but never brush them aside as irrelevant. We know these are the questions of a person struggling to find light again.
As I stood in the kitchen looking into their eyes, seeing the light dimmer than it ever has been, I was drawn to a truth that I believe at my core. It comes from John (1:4), in the bible. In him was life and that life was the light of men. This verse refers to Jesus. It tells that Jesus is a light that came into the world to beat darkness at its own game. It talks of salvation and eternity but speaks truth to the reality of my Tuesday morning visit. Looking into their faces, it appeared that darkness was winning. Then it dawned on me. Where there is life, there is light.
I know there is light in them. Even though their eyes are growing dim and one day they will close their eyes to the darkness of death, light still won for them too. Even though sometimes they can’t remember me, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus remembers them. Their light may be growing dim, but Jesus’ light shines bright for them.
So for now, I hold them. I remember for them. I’ll share my light with them. As long as there is light, I’ll let my light shine so they can see. I’ll trust and believe that when they close their eyes, Jesus’ light will be enough. His light never fades. His light means life for us. His life means light for us. Jesus’ light is enough.
If you’ve been married for any length of time, you’ve undoubtedly run into some sort of struggle or disagreement with your spouse. Whether he doesn’t keep the house as clean as you want him to keep it, or she doesn’t fix the food the way you want it fixed – we’ve undoubtedly had our moments. For some it’s a sign that we didn’t do our homework before getting married. For others it is an indication that we are just flat weak when it comes to relationships. And for still others it’s a demonstration of our selfishness. 
y wife loves to take pictures. It’s really the only thing she really cared about at our wedding was that we had a great photographer. Pictures have a way of freezing something in our minds. The moment becomes frozen in time.
ounting down the days to Christmas can be a difficult task for parents and children alike. All the little ones want is to get to Christmas morning, and the parents just want the waiting to be over. The children grow increasingly less patient as the decorations come out of storage and the tree is lit in the evenings.