Rechargeable Spotlight

Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper

There it was in the catalogue: “Rechargeable Hand-Held Spotlight.”

Ah. Now there’s a safety item Nate and Jenni might need.

Nate and Jenni, one of my sons and his wife, had just bought a boat. I was both excited for them, but also a little worried. The thought of the two of them out on the ocean maneuvering their small craft was a bit frightening to this less-than-brave parent. Reading the description of the device (“Penetrate fog, rain, and darkness to illuminate near or far with a high-intensity beam of brilliant light,”) I marked down the item number. Adding it to my order for Christmas gifts, I knew it would make Nate smile. Mom was always looking for safety equipment for her boys.

As a registered nurse, I cringe at some of the activities my sons are involved in, like swimming with sharks and flying military jets.

I don’t suppose they could do ordinary activities on terra firma.

I have often thought this with dismay. I know with certainty that their love for adventure was not passed through my particular genetic code—unless of course, it had skipped a generation!

But this “Safety First” Mom is proud of her boys for their bravery, even though I keep them in my daily prayers—often several times throughout a given day.

So after becoming the proud owners of their new boat, Nate and Jenni opened up the new safety spotlight that next Christmas. They gratefully accepted it with a smile.

It turned out to be a wise gift that holiday, as Nate told me later that he had used the spotlight on their very first venture out on the boat. Their outing was a thick, foggy trip to a local island and he was grateful for the light that let others know where they were. His shiny gift helped get them safely to their destination.

We all could use rechargeable hand-held spotlights in our lives—the kind of beam that illuminates our spiritual walk and shines a radiant warning: Danger Ahead. We have ready access to that spotlight through God’s word to brighten our way through days of thick fog and darkness. In the murkiness of this world, it can be a lifesaver.

It’s also rechargeable. Its effect can dim over time if the Heavenly Source is not sought on a regular basis.

We must guard against the darkness, to keep our spotlight aglow.

 

“You are my lamp, oh Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” (2 Samuel 22:29 NIV)

“You, oh Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (Psalm 18:28 NIV)

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” (Psalm 43:3 NIV)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

(Jesus said) “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 NIV)

 

Photo courtesy of my son, Nate Cooper

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