Matthew 6:22-23
“Your eyes are windows into your body.
If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with
light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a
dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life
you will have!"
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
According to information on
MayoClinic.com, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of
depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at
about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD,
your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months,
sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes
depression in the spring or early summer. The reduced level of sunlight
in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight
may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of
depression.”
I’m pretty sure my maternal grandmother had a form
of SAD. Cloudy and rainy days were terrible for her all throughout the
year. She was miserable on these days. For her, the darkness outside -
and in her house - transferred to a darkness on the inside. And while I
have always been able to find plenty to do on a rainy day, I will admit
that as I’ve gotten older, I notice a definite mood shift when the sun
returns after several days of clouds and rain. Indeed, the Mayo Clinic
website says that…”Treatment for SAD may include light therapy
(phototherapy).”
Clearly there is something to all of this.
Scripture tells us that when we allow darkness to creep into our lives,
we make room for the devil to fill our hearts and minds with his own
brand of darkness – and sin. When we get mired down in gossip…hatred
and discrimination…apathy and indifference…fear…mistreatment and abuse
of others…and selfishness, we leave no room for the light of Christ.
This can lead to a really sad and miserable existence…and a “dark life”
in every sense of the word.
So pull the blinds…raise the
curtains…and fill your heart and mind with the bright Light of Christ.
Focus on Jesus and the joy and blessings that result from keeping Him at
the forefront of everything you think, say, and do. Make His mission
yours…and leave no room for the darkness of the devil. Let the Light of
Christ keep your “spiritual clock” running smoothly and without
disruption. He’s “good medicine” for what ails us! Will this be the
day you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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