Keep the light on and the door open

A missionary was forcefully taken by terrorists. He was placed in solitary confinement in an “out of the way” room.

Blindfolded, he did not know where he was, there was no one to talk with, he had no contact with the outside world. Ultimate isolation was his experience. What should he do? What could he do?

All he had was his beating heart and a mind “free” to think. To keep from slipping into the darkness of boring despair, he tapped into the resource of information stored in his mind. Many months later after being freed, he said, “I called up from my memory bank things that were stored.”

He recalled Bible verses learned years before. He considered works of Shakespeare. He reflected on songs of worship and comfort as well as other musical productions. Recalling memories of pleasant times spent with his wife and enjoyable events with their children were comforting. Evaluating his life's work was rewarding. Contemplating all he had enjoyed in life assured him that the door was not closed for him.

“Summing it all up, friends,” Apostle Paul says, “I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse … God who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4; 8, 9 [MSG] written by Paul from Rome under military guard in house arrest circa A.D. 62/63.

The Rev. Paul Killingsworth serves as pastor at Yuma First Assembly.