Seeing light in the darkness
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. —Mark 10:52 NLT
Christmas is past. The pretty wrapped presents have been torn open and put away. Family members had made their trek home. The only signs of the festive meals are leftovers reposing in storage containers in the refrigerator. It was quiet in the house. My wife had gone to bed, and I was left alone downstairs with my holiday memories surrounded by the lighted tree, garlands, and Christmas village on the table. The light over our Nativity was a beautiful reminder of the star over Bethlehem marking Heaven’s celebration of Light and Life birthed in the form of a baby. As I sat there in the dark admiring the colors and twinkle of the lights, a thought pressed itself onto my mind. The dark around me enabled me to focus more intently on the lights and see them in all their beauty.
Long ago on the dusty road leading from Jericho to Jerusalem, a man named Bartimeus sat. Though the daily hustle and bustle of city life pulsed all around him, all he saw and experienced was darkness because he was blind. The crowd surrounded him, yet he sat alone. Though we may not be visually challenged, we all have times of darkness and separation. We have chapters in our life’s story where the “everyday-ness” of life comes to a crashing halt, and we sit alone in the darkness of not seeing how we can move forward or see our way out of what we face.
In the midst of the chaotic noise around him, Bartimeus heard bits of conversations that went through him like an electric shock — “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by! There he is!” A spark of light flashed in his mind. A lighted star of hope to lead him out of his darkness.” When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). The people around him tried to silence him. They didn’t care about his needs. They cared about the irritation and embarrassment he was causing them. But Bartimeus shouted all the louder. He seized his chance to find a way out. In order to find his answer and realize his dream, Bartimeus had to have hope — just a glimmer of hope. Then he had to act upon it. His hope was in the stories he had heard of this teacher who cared for the outcast and hurting. Perhaps…perhaps Jesus would see his need and help. He was not disappointed.
“What do you want me to do for you?”, Jesus asked. “Teacher, I want to see!” (Mark 10:52). And instantly, his darkness was transformed into light and color and images! His hope became reality.
If you are sitting in a space of darkness in your life, look for the light of hope, for it will be there. Act and let those who can help you (family, friends, chaplains, pastors, counselors, etc.) know what you are experiencing. Together you can find that hope can become reality in your life. It can be transformed, and you don’t go through the journey alone. We travel together with Jesus.
“And instantly the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road” (Mark 10:52).
—Terry Swenson, DMin, is director of University Spiritual Care.
