This morning I woke up before 5 which was really 4 which was really 3 just two days ago. Our destination of Italy is six hours ahead of U.S. east coast time. So periodically throughout the journey, we have set clocks ahead an hour at a time. While much nicer than arriving after a long flight and fighting jet lag, it does tend to result in odd waking and sleeping hours. The last two nights were our final “move aheads”, so we should be pretty well acclimated to the time difference by our arrival.
I read, wrote, played spider solitaire and tried to go back to sleep. Nothing worked and I finally decided since my early riser roommate was still uncharacteristically asleep, I would take my Bible to the Lido buffet dining area and have coffee while I read. There were very few people up yet so I had an entire section to myself. I should do this more often!
Since it was still early I also went for a walk on the promenade deck which was still wet from the early morning wash given it by the crew. The weather was perfect for walking – in the high 50’s with a light breeze. I began my laps in the dark but gradually the sun – as it always does – began to peek over the edge of the horizon behind the clouds, starting to turn them a slight pink. The old saying, “red sky at night, sailor’s delight, red sky at morning, sailor take warning” ran through my mind. I didn’t think this particular shade was cause for concern.
We are still traveling east, so as I walked toward the aft (rear) of the ship on my last trip around, the sky ahead was dark. I walked across the back, turned the corner toward the bow (front) and was startled at how much light was suddenly ahead of me in the eastern sky. It made me stop and smile and I realized how easy it was to be so focused on the dark skies ahead as I walked west, that I was surprised at the amount of light in the east when I rounded the corner – even though I had experienced that light every day of my life for the last – well – many years, and had just seen promise of it a few steps earlier!
Why in the face of darkness do I so quickly forget God’s consistent provision of light that never fails to return? I have experienced it over and over, God promises “though weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning” and yet, I can be so easily overcome by evil, difficulty, or even inconvenience. Darkness can never win. Light will vanquish it over and over, for where there is light, darkness cannot exist. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. How I need to walk consistently in that light.
Grateful for the morning lesson. Rambling on…
And oh so very grateful for you…! Beautifully written!