One of the neighbors recently installed a powerful flood light which shines 24 hours each day. It not only lights his back yard, but mine, too, and, in fact, the whole interior of our house. And now, each evening a string of party lights adorns their new fence.
Across the street also are the half dozen lamps which light a walkway, which come on at dusk and turn off at dawn. They light up the other side of our house and illuminate the front yard.
No, I won’t be calling them or writing them, and I don’t stew over these things. It’s life in the city, and I realize that they have a right to do what they choose. Sometimes being a good neighbor just means drawing the blinds.
I also realize that we light up the night because it makes us feel safe, much like the reassuring glow of the child’s night light or the 2 watt bulb which illuminates that top step. And we know that criminals hate the light, and more likely work under cover of darkness.
Still, our ability to light the night and conduct business 24/7 comes at a cost, which is to neutralize or dampen nature’s rhythms, which the Lord built into Creation. It makes me wonder how much this affects our sleep patterns and if some of us sleep well at all.
We are creatures inhabiting an amazing solar system which facilitates sleep. And to help us sleep better, the Creator Himself assures us that He always is working on our behalf, even while we are at rest. . .
Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise up early,
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat–
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:1, 2