Grey by Dennis Bagenstos: Advent Day 4

Posted on December 4, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback

To someone who is clinically depressed, the world can seem flat or grey. This was long thought to be purely psychological. It turns out, though, that depression may affect how the eyes function—the lack of dopamine physically affects the amacrine cells within the retina.  The world really does appear gray to someone with depression.

If you grew up in places like the Midwest or on the east coast, particularly the northern climes, you remember those long nights and short, grey days of winter. I think the grey skies are worse than the long nights, but both remind me of the darkness in our lives.  After a while, we just feel like we can never see the light, and as with clinical depression, the greyness and darkness become more than just a metaphor. Physically and emotionally, we are in darkness.

The darkness in our lives is very real.  And note something in the passage from John 1:5; we are not promised that the light eliminates the darkness, only that the darkness does not overcome the light. But it is amazing how one small light can be a beacon in the darkness; a beacon that can restore faith and hope in the darkest night or greyest day.

Heavenly Father, as we find ourselves in greyness and darkness, light our path that we might find hope and faith restored.

      ~Dennis Bagenstos