Romancing The Rock

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” [Isaiah 42:16 NIV]

Photo by James Stapley

At this time of year my early morning walk takes place in darkness. The earth is silent — no bird-calls, no gusts of wind — only the occasional dog barking, the rhythmic sound of my feet treading the pavement, and the distant whir of traffic on the major roads. Everything waits for the sun.

I cannot see the path in front of me, except that it is a shade lighter than the grassy fields which border it. I can see the white of my runners gleam in the moonlight as I stretch each step forward, but everything else is shrouded in darkness. Trees stand in silhouette against the starry sky. The occasional street-light in the distance casts eerie shadows in all directions.

But, I walk the path, confident I will not stumble or fall. I am fairly sure the path will lead me where I need to go, and soon the sun will be up.

Photo by Mattox

It reminds me of life. We cannot always see where we are going, and even if we have a general idea, it can still be shrouded in the unknown — a bit of a mystery. But, we have God’s promise. He is the light to our path (see Ps 119:130). He makes our paths straight (see Prov 3:6). Darkness is as light to Him (see Ps 139:12). Even if we cannot see a single thing ahead, He can see us and our journey in bold spotlight. I don’t know about you, but that gives me a whole lot of confidence!

And so, I turn my footsteps toward home, and suddenly out of the darkness, the air bursts into life with birdsong. I turn toward the east. Ah, yes. The inky black of night is being replaced by a grey-blue smudge on the horizon. The sun is coming.