night light

Apparently my hike at Radnor Lake this morning coincided with woodland recess for the deer. This was not the first time that I have felt like I have been transported into the wonderful world of Walt Disney with Bambi and friends – fawns frolicking among the trees, does splashing through a stream, young bucks doing battle with their antlers. Indeed, on many occasions these woods have seemed magical to me, but none more so than during the ranger-led midnight hike on New Year’s Eve. 

At the beginning of this memorable hike, the ranger instructed us not to use flashlights. Your eyes will adjust as we walk, he promised us, and he was right. As we made our way single file along the trail, the full moon provided ample illumination. The moonlight was so bright, in fact, that the trees cast long shadows on the forest floor. As a barred owl hooted above our heads and a coyote howled in the distance, the ranger quietly called out words of caution and encouragement to us – there’s a step here, watch out for the tree root, we’re almost at the top – guiding us every step of the way on our ascent of Ganier Ridge. The ranger’s voice gave us confidence – he knew these trails backwards and forwards, and we trusted that he would lead us safely throughout our journey.

In Sunday School yesterday we studied the final verses from the book of Acts and reflected on the Apostle Paul’s journeys. Paul was a man who knew something about darkness and light. How many times did he face hardships and trials? Yet through each dark and difficult experience, Paul’s faith in God deepened. His spiritual eyes adjusted, and he kept moving forward as he followed the voice of the One who had called him out of spiritual darkness and into the marvelous Light.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).