Storm clouds building on the horizon.  Warnings on the radio and TV about an impending storm.  The possibility of power outages in the region.  How does that make you feel?  Scared?  Excited?  Apprehensive? 

To many, the loss of power is frightening.  To others exciting!  I remember as a kid when the power would go out.  It was a bit scary, especially if the wind was howling outside the house, the windows rattled and every board and nail in the house would creak and groan as it strained against the onslaught of wind and rain.  Going down a dark hall to my bedroom or to use the bathroom was enough to give me goose-flesh.  Those were the times when I would do what I had to quickly so I could get back to the light and other people.

People tend to gravitate toward the light.  Think about it.  When the sun sets and darkness envelops the land, we all turn on lights to see.  We don’t like being in total darkness because we can’t see what’s going on and we feel helpless.  Light pulls us toward it. 

As a kid in Covington, there were the occasional street lamp and porch lights as well as a few lights on businesses to light the night.  So, when the power went out, the loss of that bit of light was bad enough.  However, today, there are so many lights on businesses, homes, street lights, signals at intersections, headlights on cars and more that when the lights go out it is REALLY dark!  Or so it seems. We are so accustomed to the light that a lack of such is instant and foreboding.  The darkness immediately covers the land light tar poured from the heavens. 

Without thinking, we immediately try to turn on light switches, use the microwave or oven, watch TV or anything else that requires electricity.  And then we remember that those things don’t work.  So, we pull out flashlights and candles and do the best we can whether it be playing games, reading a book or sitting around talking.  And if the power stays off into the night, it’s always shocking when at 3 a.m. the light switch we left on in the bedroom comes to life blinding us and reminding us of the storm that has passed. 

The next time the power goes out, think about our dependance on electricity and lumens.  And if it stays off into the night, go outside and look around.  You’ll soon realize how dark our planet can be as you gaze into the inky blackness of space and ponder your insignificance when compared to all creation around us.