by:  Cris Corzine-McCloskey

My husband is the Plant Doctor, so I brought him an ivy I’d been neglecting at the office. I didn’t think it stood a chance. He assessed the damage, gave it some water, and put it in front of a window. Now it’s lush and green, with new stems shooting up everywhere. But I noticed the entire plant is now leaning and growing toward the window. As I look at that plant, straining to get to the light, I can’t help but think plants may be smarter than a lot of people I know.

A plant knows what’s good for it, and it seeks those things out. Tree roots grow toward a water source. Plants lean in whatever direction they can get the best shot at sunlight. I find these things intriguing because, in the Bible, water and light are both terms Jesus used to describe Himself.

Jesus called Himself, “Living Water” and the “Light of the world.” It says in the Book of John that Jesus came to shine His light into our dark world. But He said many of us wouldn’t want His light, because we are in love with our dark deeds. I don’t get judgy with dark deed loving people. I used to be one. But it never ceases to amaze me how incredibly self-destructive we humans can be.

In my dark days, I sought out every toxic substance and bad relationship I could find. I purposely avoided Jesus. I believed He existed, but I equated Him to a Cosmic Fun-Sucker. When I did pray, I would ask God to give me just enough time before I died to repent. I wanted to slide into Heaven by the skin of my teeth, like a baseball player sliding into home. I guess I thought Jesus would be standing over me, waving His arms over me and yelling, “Safe!”

The problem with dwelling in darkness is you can’t conceptualize living in the light. It sounded awful to me. All I could think of was what I would have to give up. It never dawned on me all there was to gain. Had I ever known life with Jesus would be this good, I would have lived my life like that plant in my window, pursuing the Light with everything inside me. I would have warmed myself in His presence and drank of His goodness.

I read a story once about a city that had no light. Without light, all the people had gone blind. In their blindness, they envisioned their city as something beautiful and majestic. All the while, they were living in rubble and decay. I think the story was trying to say we can make something beautiful out of anything, but I feel like that’s what happens when you are dwelling in darkness. When you’re in darkness, it’s easy to convince yourself you have something worth holding onto.

My practice is filled with people who come to me after driving their life off a cliff and hitting rock-bottom. Rock-bottom hurts, but it’s a great place to be. It brings an awareness that the dark deeds we think we like so much aren’t so nifty, after all. I praise God for a Savior who doesn’t mind meeting us at the bottom of a cliff.

But in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit, there was a lot I had to give up when I went into the Light. I had to give up hangovers, heartbreak, being broke (drugs are expensive!), getting fired (they also make you a poor employee), legal problems, prison, crippling fear, loneliness, and meaninglessness. But I don’t miss those things. Not one iota.

Till the next time we meet, you can find me hanging out with my beautiful ivy, soaking up some Living Water and bathing in the Light.

 

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