Seasonal affective disorder

We just recently passed the date for this fall when we begin to move into days with more dark time than light. For some people this time of year presents significant hurdles in their desire to maintain a positive attitude as they go about their daily activities. It even has a medical name: seasonal affective disorder.

But sometimes, no matter what time of year it is, we are tempted to let dark feelings and motives overtake us. Perhaps there has just been too much difficulty to cope with and we become overwhelmed and find it very hard to find anything good about our lives or even ourselves. Another possibility is that we have become lazy in our efforts to keep looking for things for which we can be grateful and even celebrate outright. Or we forget that even on our darkest days Jesus is still the light of the world, shining bright in that darkness. And the darkness cannot overcome His light.

No one can deny that there is more than enough darkness in our world, whether it is related to the season of the year, or the season of our hearts. But we always have the option to look toward the Light, not away from it. If we are able to do so, not only does it change our own attitude, but we are more likely to reflect Christ?s light to those around us.

Remember that Sunday school song ?This Little Light of Mine?? Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!