Three-year old Wilhelm was afraid of dark.

A strategic night light broke the darkness into a safe hallway.

While pregnant with her second child, Jeanie was holding Wilhelm to comfort him against the dark.

Wilhelm touched his mom’s abdomen, saying, “Mama, is it dark inside there where my little brother is?”

“Yes, it is dark in there.”

“He doesn’t even have a night light, does he?”

“No, not even a night light.”

“Do you think he’s scared all by himself in there?”

“I don’t think so because he’s not really alone. He’s inside of me. It’s the same with you. When it’s dark and you think you’re all by yourself, you really aren’t. I carry you inside of me, right here inside my heart”

Nicodemus was a Pharisee with an interest in Christ. In fact he acknowledged that Jesus was from God.

But, because he didn’t want anyone to know of his interest in Jesus, he came to him “in the night time.”

He also came in his own darkness, with his own fears. Jesus invited him to come into the light.

There are times when we prefer to be secret followers of Jesus. Right now, here, it’s safe to say what you believe, but, in your daily world, where you live, in the business place, on the school campus, in the realm of political and social action, that is where we tend to be timid.

It is there that you have to face, to confront hatred, racism, violence, dishonesty and all the other insidious manifestations of the world of darkness from which Jesus calls you.

“... But people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may clearly be seen as done in God.”

You can hide in darkness but there is also a darkness in you ... secret hurts, disappointments, failures you can’t let go; secret prejudices, hatreds, lies, violence, dishonesty.

The darkness may be the ways you try to advance yourself by demeaning others with abusive words or behavior that is never admitted. The darkness may be the self-destructive addictions that you are afraid to admit have control over you and you have no control over them.

It is different for each of us.

In your own private journey in life God has sent the light of His love to guide your way and challenge you to love as a child of the light and not of darkness.

Look at the cross. In the moments when fear seems to get the better of you, when you feel discouraged, when you are down, look to the cross. Draw your strength from Christ.

“... So must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Look to the cross. See love in its purest form there ... see healing there ... see what you need there ... see God who carries you near His heart.