More from Eddie D. Fleming

Some creatures are made to thrive in darkness, but humanity is not one of them. Our eyes are made to function best in the light. But darkness is a part of life, so we must learn to deal with it. We must expect it to come and be prepared for it when it does. Darkness can come from a solar eclipse, a dark storm cloud, or the natural rotation of the earth. Fortunately, this kind of darkness can be overcome by flashlights, electrical lights, and the rising of the sun. But spiritual and emotional darkness requires a light that is beyond this world.

A few years before writing my meditation “Light for Dark Days,” I experienced an ever-growing darkness. I was approaching retirement age, living in a church parsonage, and seeing no way we could afford a decent home. I began praying for wisdom as to what to do. I contemplated asking my church if I could get a part-time job to save up for a home. The thought of me getting too sick to continue as pastor or dying and leaving my family without a home created a dark place filled with many worst-case scenarios.

My wife, a school teacher, was once again substituting now that she was no longer home-schooling our children. Our oldest child was in college, and our youngest was in a Christian school where he could play sports. However, her opportunities were few and far between. But then, around a month after I began praying earnestly about our situation, we were traveling on vacation when the pastor and principal of the school my son was attending called to extend my wife an offer of a full-time teaching position at the school. She said she would pray about it and let him know. So we did — for about thirty seconds. Answers to prayers are sometimes obvious; therefore, we must embrace them.

When light comes into our darkness, let us acknowledge the One who brings the light and give thanks for Jesus, who is the light of the world and our little place within it. I know my wife and I did.

We bought our house a little over six years ago, and I give thanks every day. I recently told my church that I will turn 70 in July and will be retiring from the pastorate at the end of that month. I will continue to preach as a fill-in at area churches and beyond while devoting more time to writing. I will be setting up my office in the basement of our home and hope to publish more books in the future.

I have written Sunday school lessons for my General Baptist denomination for over 30 years and continue to do so. I also recently published a book that can be purchased at my website: www.eddiedfleming.com or any online bookseller, though my website gives a discount. I also do a 3-5 minute video devotional on my Facebook page every Monday through Saturday.

I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life while trusting Jesus to light the way.