The Gift of Light

Over the past few weeks I've struggled through working in a room lit by a single light bulb mounted in the ceiling.  This solitary light source is directly behind my back when I stand in front of my bench, therefore casting my massive shadow directly over anything I am working on.  This is counter-productive.

Last week I was discussing the current status of my work with my father at the clock shop.  I mentioned this extreme lack of light, and he said he thought he had a large florescent light fixture hanging around that he would not be using.  Saturday afternoon I dropped by his house with my family while we were running errands, and he gave me the old light fixture and two new bulbs for it.  After an $8 run to the hardware store and a little time spent on the step ladder, my humble workshop now has a terrific amount of light.  Best of all, my work is no longer encumbered by the dark cast of my own shadow.

For those of you who have read up to this point and thought, "his dad gave him a light fixture. cool. <YAWN>..." you miss the larger picture.  While thinking about how grateful I was for this new light, many thoughts rushed through my mind.  I realized just how great a gift this simple act of charity from my father was to me, and how it represented so much more than what my eyes would see.  Here in this story I have told above there lies MUCH symbolism.

Over the years I have been moving along in life, guided largely by the the light of others pushing me along. While this light has been sufficient to keep me moving in a forward direction, I have been greatly encumbered by my own shadow countless times.  It now has occurred to me that over the past 13 years since I came back home to Columbia, my father has CONSTANTLY given me the light I have needed to see through the darkness and confusion that I constantly place before myself.

I think of every single good decision I have made over that time period, and I am reminded of a discussion I had with my father.  Getting back on my own feet after coming home, rediscovering the importance of religion, getting engaged and married, going to college, starting a family, going BACK to college, pushing the clock shop forward.  His wisdom and knowledge, and his willingness to give them to me, have been there through it all.

But it goes well beyond that time also.  How do I know how to use the very tools I own?  Because I have been there with him while he was using his tools for as far back as my memory allows me to recall.  Why do I think I can do the things I set out to do?  Because of the things that I have seen him do.

I sit here wanting to type more, but I just can't write enough words to express my gratitude for my father's Gift of Light.  His gift educates me, empowers me, and encourages me.  I am very excited and humbled to use his light to continue on my path of Enduring Creation.