I thought of something while running last night that just might be helpful in our discussion of Fight or Flight situations in life.  (Yes, for all you Don-fitness-deniers out there, I plan to use illustrations about me running as often as possible to try to sound like I am MUCH more physically fit than I actually am. :-)   Anyway, I usually run well after dark, so the first thing I think after stepping outside, right after “wow, is it cold…maybe I should go back inside and eat cookies” is “How am I ever going to see well enough to run?  “It’s really dark out here…maybe I should just go back inside where it’s warm and light…and eat cookies”   (Most of my inner dialogue involves cookies, which may explain why I have to run in the first place.)

Here’s something I learned about running in darkness.  It’s not really dark.   It looks dark when you step out into it from the light…but it’s not.   If I just close my eyes for a few seconds my eyes adjust, and I can see little bits of light everywhere: lights from neighboring house windows…porch lights…yard lights…occasionally even moon light.  Even the stars provide light for a successful run through the neighborhood, as long as I stay on the sidewalks and don’t get off the path.

So, if you find yourself running in a dark situation, close your eyes.  You might as well pray while they are closed, anyway. Pray for wisdom and courage to see all the “little sources of light” around you. You just might find when you open them that there are little lights everywhere.  Enough little lights to get you through your run.  Enough little scattered patches of light to get you back home…as long as you stay on the path.

¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  (John 8:12)