TUNNEL VISION

TUNNEL VISION

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16

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Have you ever felt like you are living in a tunnel, and the light far ahead is the only thing to keep you going?

Tunnel vision: (medical definition) an eye condition where an object can only be seen in the center of the viewing field.

Medical definition aside, life, at times, can cause people to see their circumstances like they are lost in a tunnel and the light at the end of the tunnel seems to become more distant as the days go on. When the tendency to focus on a single or limited point of view, tunnel vision becomes the all-encompassing factor in life.

This time of year tunnel vision can derail the Christian walk if care is not taken to focus on priorities. Holidays. Winter weather. Year-end finances. Gifting. Growing extended family demands. Grief. Health concerns. More. These items, accompanied by insignificant and irrelevant suggestions from the world where we live, consume our time, effort, and resources. A cave-in looms just ahead to threaten our enjoyment of God’s presence in our life.

Ah, when I feel like I’m in a tunnel, and the only light is the one at an increasing distance ahead, I’ve forgotten one important fact: I have within me the light to shine—a reflection of the Light of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ—into the darkness about me.

The Christmas season is also called the Advent [1] season. During Advent, when the Christ follower focuses on the spiritual qualities of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, the tunnel lights up, illustrating the image the perfect life of the Incarnate Jesus from the manger, to the Cross, to the empty tomb, and to anticipate His return for His own. The tunnel shines brightly when alit with the life lived out in the tunnel by the Christian believer.

More than the light within me reflecting the Light of life, the Savior, Jesus’ Light shining through other Christ followers joins my light in demonstrating Christ’s Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love into the darkness. More, their lights shine on me, as well.

Challenge: Ask: What stands in the way of the glow of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in the darkness about in your life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Light of the World, help me to reflect Your presence in the darkness about me. Because of You and in Your name, Amen.