So, this past Monday one of my students and I joined in an adventure that we were not ready for but jumped right in to life in the moment. Our day began with us preparing sandwiches and coffee to give to the homeless living in our area. We then divided into groups, prayed and went on our way following our friend Jean-Claude. We came to a bridge and as Jean-Claude jumped on the fence he told us we will climb this fence and then go down the hill on the other side. What? That is what I said to myself. After a few of the group climbed the fence I just went for it. I climbed the fence and as I landed on the other side I went down the hill trying not to fall as I slide down the muddy trail. At the bottom we were met with two railways going through a long tunnel.
Jean-Claude then shared that we were to walk through the tunnel on the railroad tracks. We had no flashlights or ways to give us light in our journey but we went forth in our teams, one right after the other. At first I was able to see the person in front of me but eventually all was dark. I noticed in the beginning I was trusting in the little bit of light that was reflected in front of me with the other end of the tunnel so far in the distance. I could see the ties of the tracks as I stepped on each one, then I couldn't see a thing. I walked forward in a blind faith that the ties were as consistent as my step. I began to ask God if there was anything He wanted to speak to me about in this experience. I sensed that it was the lesson of taking one step at a time and just continue in the fashion I am going trusting that even if I miss the tie or a tie is missing or completely covered it is important to continue to move forward, not stop cause for one those following behind me may bump in to me and cause us both to fall, get hurt, etc. The light in the distance was very attractive as you realize that you want to reach it faster than no. Your eyes seem to want the light, to see everything around you with out strain or discomfort. Most importantly the light gives you the hope that being in the darkness will come to an end eventually.
There seems to be a comparison with hope and hopelessness and being in the tunnel and seeing that there is an end to the tunnel before you. When you have no hope darkness surrounds every part of your life. All you see is the doom and gloom of life but there is a light, the light is hope. The goal is to just keep walking forward towards it. If you walk slowly the darkness begins to become even more suffocating but if you continue at a good pace the light becomes greater, the end of the tunnel seems bigger and bigger and in time you will leave it. I think some people look to the right and to the left and become preoccupied by what they do not see and try to make sense of what they do see. Jesus is the light at the end of our tunnels. If we keep our focus on Him even when we are in a tunnel all we see is the light cause we are not looking to the darkness on the right or the left.
