The story is told of an old country doctor who went way out to the boondocks to deliver a baby.  It was so far out, there was no electricity.  When the doctor arrived, no one was home except for the laboring mother and her 5-year-old child.

The doctor instructed the child to hold a lantern high so he could see, while he helped the woman deliver the baby.

The child did so, the mother pushed and after a little while, the doctor lifted the newborn baby by the feet and spanked him on the bottom to get him to take his first breath.

No sooner had he done this when another baby popped out, then another, and yet another.  At this time, the little boy blew out the lamp.

The doctor yelled, "What did you do that for?"

"The light's attracting them," he replied.

Spiritually speaking, there's a great deal of truth in that last statement.   We experience the "new birth" (John 3:3) only after being attracted to the "light" -- the light of God's presence, the light of God's Word.  Like moths drawn to a light bulb burning in the night, those who search with an empty and unsatisfied heart will be drawn to God's light.  And praise be to God who offers us a way to leave our world of darkness and enter his "marvelous light":

"But you are....
His own special people,
that you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light;
who once were not a people
but are now the people of God,
who had not obtained mercy
but now have obtained mercy."
(I Peter 2:9-10).

Heavenly Father, I live in the midst of a dark world. Thank you for allowing your light to shine into my heart and into my life. Help me as I strive to live my life in such a way that I reflect your light so that others around me may see that light and be attracted to it.  In the name of the one who is the "light of this world", Amen.