I
really wanted one of those hats. What a
great hat. How important I would be if I had one, but Dad said I am too young to be signed up as an Air Raid
Warden. I guess you have to be a Warden
to have the hat.
Sitting
on the front porch swing, huddled up with my Dad and Sister, I could see him
coming down the street. It was almost
dark but I could see his figure dimly through the dusk, looking at each house,
peering carefully for any faint sign of light.
It
was 1944 and an air raid drill was underway.
Midway
through the Second World War, air raid drills and blackouts became common
activities. In towns across the United States, Air Raid Wardens assumed
leadership positions in educating their neighbors on drill procedures. These volunteers, the lucky ones with the
neat pith helmets, patrolled the streets, checking each house to make certain
there was not a speck of light visible.
All street lights were turned off, window blinds were closed, no lights
on, and certainly Dad would not be lighting a match for a smoke here on the
front porch.
If a
light was spotted in a neighboring house, unnoticed by the resident, perhaps just a small ray of light from a window, the warden
was quick to correct the infraction. "Put
That Light Out” or "”Close Your Blinds” or “Kill that Match”!!
As a
small boy I didn’t even question how an enemy bomber could make it cross the
United States from either the East or West Coast to bomb a small Ohio town. Or… Why!
Was our paper mill a threat to the enemy? Did the shoe factory, and fear of the
consequences of thousands of shoes being
made, frighten them into a long range strike, which was probably not even possible due to
the distance from enemy territory?
Logic was not on the side of our being attacked but I bought into the
whole idea of sitting close to Dad and wonderful Big Sister, wondering what was
coming next.
How
far away, how long ago those times were.
The fear, the hiding, the unknown, staying in the dark, window blinds closed, keeping our light from shining. And how different is the view that I now have.
In more
recent years, my study of the Bible, and especially of the teachings of a
humble spiritual guide, Jesus of Nazareth, over 2000 years ago, I have learned
that our light SHOULD shine, it SHOULD be visible. In fact, when our thoughts are spiritual,
when our every thought and deed reflects the Love,
intelligence, tenderness, kindness and wisdom that is ours as the “image and
likeness of God” we are the light of
the world, and THAT is our defense.
In the Bible, that wonderful guidebook to life, Christ Jesus counseled:
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is
set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the
house."
He
encouraged us to "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father which is in the heaven." (Matthew 5)".
His
words were so simple, so direct, so specific, words applicable to all Christians
certainly, and I believe they apply to all …to Jews and Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, all people…whatever their
level of spirituality, whatever their religion or creed, whatever their light
looks like, or high brightly it burns.
Each of God’s ideas, each one of His children, has within him/her self the spark to light a
candle for good, and let that light shine for all to see.
Harking
back to those days on the front porch, I often ask myself, Is the fear of attack, of worldly opinion, concern
about being misunderstood or of being too forward or intrusive, keeping me from sharing the
healing message that God has for us, keeping me hiding on the porch, lights out, blinds drawn? Or is my light shining in the darkness?
The
words of a gospel children’s song written in the 1920s by Harry
Dixon Loes (1895-1965) is a wonderful reminder. Here are the words, the first line of each
verse:
This
little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine
Everywhere
I go/I'm gonna let it shine
Hide
it under a bushel Oh no!/I'm going to let it shine
Let
it Shine/All the time/Let it shine/Oh yeah!
Jesus
gave me the light/I'm gonna let it shine
Don't
let the Satan blow it out/I'm going to let it shine
Let
it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine!!!!
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