Germany and its World War I Allies began the practice on April 30, 1916, as a
way to conserve coal. America soon followed suit.
When I was a child, I relished the extra daylight hours Daylight Savings Time
provided. There was more time to play outside with my friends. But in the fall,
I loathed the long hours of darkness.
As an adult, the “falling back one hour”—along with the decreased amount of
light, often leads me and hundreds of others into a gloomy and sometimes
depressed mood physicians have labeled the “winter blues”—and in its more severe
form SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I find myself out of energy and
struggling to make it through the day. My body craves more light…more vigor.
David knew nothing about DST or SAD, but he did know a little about being down
in the dumps. "I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me
and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the
mire. He set my feet on solid ground." (Psalm 40:1-2 NLT)
Practical advice for fighting SAD includes having a well lit home during the
winter months and going outside on warm days to soak up sunshine. A light box or
fluorescent lights are also good investments. In more serious cases, physicians
can prescribe anti-depressants.
But any or all of the above should be combined with letting more of the Son in.
I can flood my soul with spiritual exercises just as I flood my home with
artificial light. As I sit by the bright lights I can read and meditate on God’s
Word, journal my thoughts, reflect on how God has met my needs in the past and
in the present, and praise him for all the good things in life.
Don’t let Satan tempt you to fall under when all you’ve really done is fall
back.
Prayer: Merciful Father, when the blues set in, encourage us to trust You to
drive them away.
Martin Wiles
Hodges,
South Carolina, USA
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