As I write this (or, technically, type this — the constant use of the keyboard has rendered my penmanship [Remember pens?] illegible), daylight saving time is fast approaching. Daylight saving time (DST) was suggested in different ways for centuries, but was not officially observed in the modern world until World War I in order to save fuel by cutting down on the use of artificial light.

It is sometimes more accurately called “Summer Time,” because it covers the summer months. DST doesn’t actually save daylight — it just moves it around. The idea is to “add” more light to the end of the day. This helps with energy use and allows more time for late afternoon and evening activities. As with many broad attempts to mess with things, there are drawbacks as well. Probably the most well-known detrimental effect of spring-forward-clockchange day is, “WE LOSE AN HOUR OF SLEEP!” There are enough things to lose sleep over as it is.

The “extra” daylight hour is tied to lower lighting energy use, fewer traffic accidents, and less crime due to the change in time. The time change also has negative effects on our natural rhythms and feelings, not to mention our television schedules! It’s amazing what effect light has on our lifestyle.
Light is healthy in many ways, and light therapy is often used to treat mood disorders. Light helps us find our way when shone in the darkest places. It will illuminate our path as well as provide a beacon to lead us to safety, much like a lighthouse. Without light, there would be no colors — peacocks, pansies, and paintings would all look alike. There would be no rainbows or reflections. Life would be pretty bland; in fact, there would be no life.

God knew what He was doing when He created light on the first day (Genesis 1:3). Without light, the rest of Creation would have been meaningless, and with God, nothing is ever meaningless. Although man may find little meaning in life (“All is vanity,” Ecclesiastes 1:1), God has a purpose for everything, even bad things: “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Proverbs 16:4). Sometimes, a little light needs to shine into a dark place to reveal what is really there. God is not only the source of light — He is light: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Because God is light, He expects us to walk in His light so we may have an intimate relationship with Him and with other Christians: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:6 – 7). The advantages of walking in the light are good relations with other Christians and forgiveness from sin.

Speaking of Jesus, John said, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Following Jesus gives light. How do we know the path Jesus is leading on? The Bible shows the path: “Your word is a lamp to
my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). The same man who described life as vanity also said, “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclessiastes 3:11). The light of life in Christ and in the Word give us a new perspective on life in all its facets. It does not throw off our rhythms, but synchronizes our hearts and minds with Jesus. The heavenly light awakens us, and that is a good thing — “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14). Add color, energy, and meaning to your life!

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