Glancing up from my computer screen one afternoon, I caught sight of one of our cats who had discovered a patch of sunlight on the floor just beyond my office door.  Peering back at me through heavy lidded eyes, he yawned and stretched to his full length, immersing himself in the warm and comforting pool of sunshine.

A little while later I peeked out the door and noticed the cat sound asleep in the same exact spot in which I had last spied him, completely oblivious to the fact that the pool of light had shifted, leaving him behind in darkness.

Rising from my chair, I made my way towards the cat.  Startled by my actions, he roused from his sleep and looked around in a state of confusion.  Once he came to his senses and took note of his surroundings, the cat got up and made his way over to the relocated sun patch, laid down, and promptly went back to sleep.  Oh to be a cat.

Watching my cat bask in the warmth and glow of the light brought to mind the sense of peace I experience when I am “in the light,” or living in obedience to God.  The scenario that unfolded outside my office also reminded me of the sense of confusion, sadness and longing I feel when I am not in the light, those times when I am not walking in fellowship with God, with others, or according to His calling for my life.

Just like the cat who is lulled to sleep by the warmth of the sun, the busyness of life and its daily distractions can lull us into a state of complacency.  But rather than the light leaving us, we have the tendency to drift from it.  Sometimes we knowingly drift.  Other times, just like the cat, we might not realize we’ve drifted until awaken in a state of confusion.

When the light is no longer felt, the choice is ours as to whether we linger in the darkness or heed the wake up call, seek out the light and do what is necessary to return to its warmth and comfort.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

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