We can be joyful in any circumstance

Susie, my sister, was recently visiting a patient at a major medical center. As she turned the corner in the hospital hall, she came directly in contact with a young girl, her mother, and another who Susie assumed was the little girl’s grandmother. All three were walking together.

My sister was immediately drawn to the child. Ashley was a beautiful, curly headed little girl about the age of Susie’s own 8-year-old granddaughter.

However, there was a noticeable difference. The little girl was blind. The child was practicing navigating her world using a walking stick. Her mother softly spoke to her and said, “Remember Ashley, you tap once in front of you, then once to the left and once to the right. That helps you discover your space.”

Ashley was talkative, giggly and happy all the while. Susie turned and watched as the three continued down the hall into the labyrinth of the giant medical facility. The precious little one was learning to walk with her new white cane.

That afternoon, Susie called me to tell me about the event and her recall of what she had experienced brought me to some spiritual examination.

First, the child was navigating her way in a world that was dark to her. She had no sight. She was learning to make her way using the tools that she had.

That is the way we all are. We all live in world that is spiritually blind. Many times the wrong is made to be seen as right, and the right is made to be seen as wrong. Blaise Pascal’s words of long ago seem to make the point. He wrote: “It seems to me that truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.”

So how do we navigate the network of a world that is in spiritual darkness? First of all, the psalmist David, who had his own problems at times, said: “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Even David with sin in his past realized that the absorption of God’s Word in his mind and heart was the light for the path he walked every day.

Second, Paul told Timothy to study the Word in order to learn its teachings and precepts. After all, in order to live in the grace of God, we should be able to know about the grace of God. That means incorporation of the Word of God into our lives. Paul wrote “Study thyself approved unto God a workman that is not ashamed, rightly dividing the world of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).

As Christians, we must study and learn the truths of the Bible and apply those to our everyday lives.

Third, many are looking for guidance and purpose for life. The Bible does more than light our paths, and the Bible does more that speak the truth. As the little girl with the cane moved, tapping it to the left and to the right to avoid obstacles, so the Bible gives guidance and also reminds us of pitfalls and disasters if we continue to walk in darkness spiritually.

Further, light expels darkness. When we walk in the light, we become more Christ like because we follow his teachings, we function under his control, and flourish in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. (I John 1:5-7)

One more thought ... Susie mentioned that just seeing the joyfulness of this little girl was convicting. Why? So many days we think things are not going our way. We interpret small setbacks in our daily activities as huge blockades. Then, our attitude at the end of the day reflects that we have focused on the small things.

Susie said that seeing this little girl made her realize again that we can be joyful in any circumstance.

I am so glad that Susie called me and told me about that beautiful little girl. Just a chance encounter but how meaningful were the lessons from this precious young child and she didn’t even know it.

Judy Brandon writes about faith for The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact her at: [email protected]