Out of the Darkness

Years ago on a camping trip I was on a late night walk and had a flashlight problem.  I was by myself and my flashlight was out of commission.  It was dark.  Really Really Dark.  This camping trip was in the mountains of northern New Mexico, and it was dark.  So I started walking in the general direction of my camp.  It took a long time, but eventually I found my way back.  I remember seeing the lit up tents peeking through the trees.  There was a sense of relief and safety.  When you are in nothing but darkness, there is a lot of relief in the light.

Our politicians spend a lot of time shining light on the flaws of their opponents.  They point out the other's flaws and mistakes and hypocrisies but not much about their own.  I remember seeing a debater once between two politicians.  The moderator asked them to identify one weakness.  The first said that he struggled with organization and clutter.  He described how he had to stay on top of this constantly.  The second politician said that his problem was that he cared too deeply and gave too much.  He chose to highlight a strength but phrase it as a weakness.  We all have weaknesses and problems that even if we don't show the world, we should at least view ourselves.

The story goes that they brought a woman to Jesus.  She had been accused of adultery and she was to be stoned.  Jesus said that the one with out sin should go ahead and get started.  Everything changed that day.  It changed from condemning each other to reflecting in out own heart.  Too often we are worried about shining a bright light on our neighbors, when what is called for is a small light so that we can see our own flaws.

Watch this clip from Pastor Lowell.

When he got done writing in the dirt no one was left to condemn her and neither did Jesus.  We need to remember this when we are tempted to judge our neighbor.  We are told to worry about ourselves and let others take care of themselves.