“There is always Light, if only we are brave enough to see it. There is always Light, if only we are brave enough to be it.” Amanda Gorman, Poet, “The Hill We Climb”
For quite some time now, we have had problems at home with flickering lights. It’s the kind of flickering you get when there’s a loose connection. When we moved in seven years ago, there was only one outlet that would hold a plug, so I set about replacing every outlet with good quality receptacles. I’ve replaced a ton of outlets and light switches over the years, so it is a task with which I am experienced and “at home” (so to speak).
The problem we were facing with our flickering light fixtures, however, was different. The lamps were plugged in securely; connections on our built-in lighting fixtures were likewise well-secured. The issue presented itself in several rooms, so it wasn’t a lone flakey lightbulb having conniptions. So we brought in a professional electrical contractor to diagnose the problem and help us plot a solution.
The problem turned out to be a faulty breaker panel. It was failing, and the inconsistent supply of electricity to the house was causing the flickering and, if left alone, could result in something worse than flickering lights, so we bit the bullet and contracted for an upgrade to our electrical service. We didn’t just upgrade the panel; we added fresh lighting for the two guest bedrooms, as well as a light and outlet to the house’s crawl space.
While the light and outlet in the crawl certainly aren’t needed, it will be helpful having light in the event someone ever has to visit the creep space in order to turn off the home’s water supply or replace the hot water tank. Illuminating the darkness: how biblical!
We are in the season of Lent (for those that follow church seasons – not all do, and that’s OK; there’s more than one way to “be” Church). There was a time when the focus of Lent was to wear sack-cloth and ashes and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness. There’s still a little bit of introspection that goes on these days, but I think there has been a major shift from a sin-focus to a healthier form of spirituality – one that keys in on identifying ways we can be better human beings.
Shifting one’s focus is important. I am not a craftsman, so when I do projects around the house, I’ll confess I see all the blemishes and mistakes I’ve made. When folks try to admire my handiwork, more often than not I’ll point out what I did poorly, even though most people admire that, first off, I tackled a project, and secondly, that they wouldn’t have noticed the errors of my ways if I hadn’t pointed them out. It’s one thing to be humble; it’s quite another to abuse the self.
Anyway, since we have been created in the image of God, and since we believe the glory of God is God’s mercy, it seems counterproductive to look for fault in the work of our hands, minds, or spirits. Lent is a season, not for withdrawing from God’s presence because of our weaknesses or misdoings, but to draw closer to God, to bask in the light of God’s glory, and to see what, if anything, we might do better on God’s behalf.
Our breaker panel was not evil for going bad. It didn’t decide, one day, to become ineffective or dangerous. In fact, it was a blessing that we saw the signs it was failing. It gave us an opportunity to make changes before it failed catastrophically. It gave us an opportunity to upgrade and improve the lighting in spaces that needed improving, and over time it may well save us energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint.
Many people wait until they are in too much pain not to change. Life is more joyous when one identifies what’s working or not working for them, and making the change ahead of the catastrophe. We won’t always succeed, of course. The famous Light Brigade went into the wrong valley. Oops. But if we choose our valley wisely, and with eyes wide open, perhaps we can stop the flickering in our lives, and add warmth to our light here in this, our valley.
Keith Axberg writes on matters concerning life and faith. Author of: Who the Blazes is Jesus? Good News for a Vulgar World (available through Amazon in Print and e-book)
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