We had a power outage on Saturday, about two hours.  Long enough for the house to start getting cool in the 50-degree weather.  Long enough for me to miss heating up my lunch when I’m used to eating lunch.

Long enough for us to realize that our water pressure is finite, while the need to use the facilities is not.

I had put in my contacts and was getting ready to go get some more water from the store (I called, and yes they had power) when it came back on.  Around 12:30, an hour and a half earlier than they had estimated.  We weren’t unhappy.  We flushed toilets with smiles on our faces.

And then it started – nothing physical, but the thought of how this relates to God.  This was electrical power put out by a manmade company.  What if God decided to put out the sun?  In eight minutes or so, we’d be very surprised when it got dark instantly.  And we’d start getting colder very fast.  The price of food, gas, and electricity would skyrocket in a moment.  After a day or two, people would start getting depressed – nothing to live for, they think.  Suicides would rise dramatically, and people “with nothing left to lose” would go on crime sprees.  Longer term, there would be a mass migration south for warmth, and potentially towards rivers where power (not necessarily electricity) could be generated.  The Amish might become our leaders, and Lehman’s sells out of everything.

But that’s not the worst-case scenario.  What if God decided to pull out His grace and goodness from the world?  It would be dark instantly, morally if not physically.  People would become very cold to each other.  If laws were to fall, then everything would become “not prohibited” – not exactly legal, definitely not moral, but unstopped.  As riots grew (why do people want to mess up their own space, anyway?  Different question.) the breakdowns would continue and prices of everything would increase.  After a day or two, people would start getting depressed – nothing to live for, they think.  Suicides would rise dramatically, and people “with nothing left to lose” would go on crime sprees.  There might be movement towards churches for hope and light, but people would arrive at empty shells, buildings instead of living communities.  Those who have a form of religion without being Godly might become our leaders.  Televangelists would sell out everything, desperately seeking the God they ignored before (yes, white-suited guy from Akron, I’m talking to you).

Back in present-day Ohio, things got back to normal pretty quickly.  We cleaned up (amazing what large amounts of hot water can do for your spirits), had some food, and got on with our day.

There’s still that nagging feeling, though – the power could go out again.  We talked about getting a generator for our water pump.  We don’t like doing without.

And yet there are people on our road, in our town, at work, who are still in the dark.  Not from the power company.  They are separated from God, and a lot of them don’t realize the problem yet.

What am I doing about it?  What are you doing about it?