The blue flashing light in the rear view mirror could mean only one thing at three in the morning on that deserted road through the southern counties of England. The police must have lost their way and want directions.
We would certainly be able to help them out, as we had pulled into a petrol station a few miles back to check the map as we had been lost too. Although the station had shut up shop hours before, the forecourt lights were still on so we could read the map without using the car lights. I made sure to switch off the headlights so as not to drain the near-lifeless battery; neither I nor my two friends would have relished the prospect of bump-starting* the Mini Cooper if the flat battery couldn’t turn the engine over. After a brief disagreement over the precise location of the Pole Star so we could work out which way up to hold the map, we were on the road again. Although we hadn’t travelled this road before, we were confident that this was approximately the right general direction.
The nice policeman told us they were not lost, and while they appreciated our offer of assistance they hadn’t pulled us over to ask for directions. Apparently it is against the law to drive at night, in the dark, without remembering to switch the headlights back on.
In my defence, I explained that I could actually see perfectly well as it was a clear night and my pupils were dilated because we had been visiting friends in Southsea over the weekend and wanted to make the most of the time so we stayed up late instead of getting enough sleep and we were really late leaving because the Mini wouldn’t start when the battery died and….
Driving in the Dark
When you are travelling at night, lights are not optional.
Here’s the thing about travelling in the dark: it isn’t easy to see where you are going. You can lose your way; even get stranded if your battery runs low.
The Israelites didn’t have to worry about remembering to switch on the lights when it grew dark on their journey:
“The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” (Exodus 13:21)
They had the best light for their way – the Lord, in a pillar of fire. No danger of them getting lost, then.
Jesus’ disciples thought he should avoid the danger posed by the Jews when he planned to go back to Judea. But Jesus explained that people stumble in the dark because they rely on this world’s light instead of having light within.
“Then after that interval He said to His disciples, Let us go back again to Judea. The disciples said to Him, Rabbi, the Jews only recently were intending and trying to stone You, and are You [thinking of] going back there again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? Anyone who walks about in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world. But if anyone walks about in the night, he does stumble, because there is no light in him [the light is lacking to him].” (John 11:7-10)
Like Jesus, the Israelites could make progress in spite of the darkness all around – and so can we:
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,’
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139:11-12 NIV)
Are you travelling at night just now? Is there darkness all around you? Is the road ahead unclear? Have you not been this way before?
Oftentimes the way is clear as day, but sometimes we travel through dark valleys where character is formed and faith grows up.
Your Solution
The police sent us on our way with a “don’t let us catch you driving without lights again, son” and showed us the way back to familiar roads. The Mini obediently followed the two pools of light on the road ahead, and we reached home before the sun came up. When you travel at night, lights are not optional.
When your road seems dark and unfamiliar, how do you “switch on your lights”? Or how do you see by faith that the Lord already lights the way?
*Bump-starting is a highly technical process of starting a vehicle by pushing it at high speed, jumping in, quickly putting it into gear and dropping the clutch. Elation at hearing the engine running should not distract you from the urgent need to put in the clutch again to prevent the runaway vehicle from causing serious damage to parked cars, innocent bystanders or startled cats.
Photo: Some rights reserved by davidsonscott15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible,Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
You CRACK. ME. UP. 🙂 I will come back and read more carefully when I can concentrate (i.e., am less tired and not laughing so hard). I can see the important lessons, but am too tired and laughing too hard for them to fully sink in. The visual images you provide are very powerful for someone who has a vivid imagination. I don’t think I’ll every forget this image of the Lord lighting the way. Maybe I’ll even remember to turn on headlights when I drive at night.
P.S. Even in town with plenty of street lights, people don’t seem to like me when I drive without headlights.
Hey Renee, good to see you here! Thank you for your kind words about the visual images; if you know anyone with a vivid imagination perhaps you could have them read the blog post instead.