I grew up in a dark house. Mother covered every window with three layers: blinds, sheers, and curtains. Even when the blinds were open, we couldn’t see out. Large maple trees shielded the west side of the house. A porch covered the south side. A carport blocked the east side. And Mom kept all of these window coverings in place year round.
After I left home and went back to visit Mom, over the years I noticed the darkness more and more. I didn’t really think too much about it until Mother came to live with us. Then it became an issue. She wanted to keep our window shutters closed and our blinds lowered through the day. I knew that the light wasn’t hurting her eyes because I had had them checked out. Besides, two of the rooms had north facing windows that were never bright … one was even shaded by a porch … but she wanted those shutters kept closed at all times! And she wouldn’t turn the lights on unless it was absolutely necessary.
I began to ask her questions about the windows--questions that she couldn’t really answer. So whenever I got home from work I went about opening shutters, raising blinds, and turning on lights. That's because I crave light.
One day, exasperated, Mother blurted out, “Someone will look in and see me!!” And I realized that there was the answer. Mother didn’t want to be seen. She couldn’t tell me why. She got defensive when I asked her to explain to me what she thought people would see … or why she cared … or what she had to hide.
But in a spiritual sense, Mom is correct. The Light wants to come in. He wants to illuminate and expose every dark corner of our lives. And He is willing and able to redeem every part of us. But first we have to choose to let Him in.
Mom lives in a rest home now. Her door is closed, her blinds are drawn, and the curtain around her bed is pulled so that she is hidden from sight when the door is opened. Although she is much better than she has ever been spiritually, physically she still prefers to be shielded from direct view. In fact she won’t live any other way.
I’ve removed most of the shutters and all of the curtains from our large windows. We now have only blinds (which we rarely lower) and valences. Our house is flooded with natural light, and we have unfiltered views of the world outside our windows. I don’t ever intend to live in darkness again. I need The Light. What about you?
Pastor Kit
