A Light in the Storm – September 22, 2002
In life and in the quiet recesses of the heart, it only takes one light to chase away the darkness—as a young couple found out years ago. The storm was one of the worst in two decades. The young father and mother, traveling home with two small children, had decided to drive all night while the children slept. But somewhere in the wilderness of Montana, their car stalled. The intensity of the storm made it impossible to walk to shelter. For several hours they waited—hoping and praying for help and anxiously watching for any pinpoint of light that might signal an oncoming car.
In that time only two cars appeared, but despite attempts to flag them down, the cars passed without stopping. As the red taillights disappeared, the dark became heavier, the cold more biting, and the howl of the blizzard more terrifying. Fear gripped at the young people’s hearts as they realized they might not survive the entire night in such cold. Huddled together, they prayed for help and then waited—and waited.
Sometime later, two more headlights pierced the blizzard’s darkness. Once again the husband jumped out of the car, leaned into the wind, and waved for the passerby to stop. The car slowed and pulled behind the stranded family, shining not only light but also hope into the stalled vehicle. Within minutes emotions changed as the grateful family climbed into the rescuer’s warm car and started to the nearest city. They obtained safe lodging, and the next day, after the storm had passed, they had the car fixed and were on their way again.
Memories of that night have lasted for many years. At the sight of oncoming headlights on a dark night, the mother still remembers the bright hope that washed away her fear. The experience has become for her a metaphor for living, a reminder not to retreat when another is in need. Some may think that one person can’t make a difference in this big world, but as a young couple learned a long time ago, one small light can warm, illuminate, and even save others—especially when it is God’s light that shines through us. Quite literally, one person’s light can be the answer to another’s prayer.
Program #3814