My dog walking routine is highly dictated by the temperature outside. The sweet spot for Maisy and Mimi is between 20 and 70 degrees. (Mama’s sweet spot is about 50-70!)
So, summer means I’m usually walking them before 6:30 a.m. At that time, the sun is already coming up or there’s enough pre-dawn glow to light up my neighborhood.
Now that the days are getting shorter and cooler, I’m likely to walk them during the warmest time of the day, schedule permitting.
Last week, however, I had a full morning schedule that necessitated a walk shortly after 6 am.
I know how dark it is at that time because that’s also when I let them out for a potty break first thing in the morning. I go out with them armed with a poop bag and my iPhone flashlight!
As we began our walk in full darkness, I immediately became uneasy and prayed for God to protect me on the walk.
Mind you, I live in a neighborhood with plenty of streetlights, one that would be considered safe and family friendly.
However, that didn’t eliminate the overwhelming sense of danger I felt as soon as I stepped out of my house. I found myself walking faster just to get to the next circle of streetlamp light!
As I neared the end of our walk, I could see a glow in the eastern sky as the darkness started to lift, and my “spidey-sense” calmed down.
Knowing that our days are becoming shorter until the Winter Solstice, I wondered just what that looked like. Here’s a summary of how we’re affected by these seasonal changes:
In the Des Moines area, the shortest day of 2026 is Monday, December 21, the winter solstice.
- Daylight: 9 hours, 10 minutes
- Darkness: 14 hours, 50 minutes
- Sunrise: 7:37 a.m.
- Sunset: 4:47 p.m.
That’s approximately 38% daylight and 62% darkness. That’s a lot of darkness, and for many people, the dwindling daylight can take a toll on their physical and emotional well-being.
So, if you’re now wondering if Lynne actually has a degree in meteorology, let me assure you I do have a point to this discussion!
And it takes us back to the emotions I felt in the utter darkness, and then as I began to see some light.
While darkness itself isn’t inherently evil, Scripture frequently uses it as a metaphor for evil and separation from God. And we do know that evil can hide in the darkness.
We know Jesus is the Light of the World. Conversely, there are numerous scriptures that address some of the evil that literally happens at night – thievery, drunkenness, sexual immorality and more.
I shouldn’t be surprised, then, when my walk in the darkness brought out a certain feeling of dread and danger.
Spiritually “walking in the light” is exponentially more powerful than simply walking under a streetlamp.
I didn’t dwell on the details of those “darkness” scriptures, but I do want to share with you how uplifting and encouraging the “light” scriptures are! This is what God wants for us. A life that is lived in the Light of Christ.
Jesus as the Light of the World:
- John 8:12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- John 1:4-5: In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
- John 12:46: I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Walking in the Light
- Ephesians 5:8-10: …for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
- 1 John 2:9-11: Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Sharing Christ’s Light
- Matthew 5:14-16: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
It’s no surprise to me that, once again, a critical biblical truth is reflected in nature. God has infused the fullness of his character into his creation. What a blessing it is to discover all the ways he reveals himself to us as we walk through this life.
And perhaps, as we walk the dogs in the dark.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out
and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8
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