HALL THINGS CONSIDERED: Enjoy the sunshine while also being a light

Mar. 24—For the first time in several years, I've actually gotten to see the difference that Daylight Savings Time makes.

Here at the office, my desk is located right in the middle of the building which means I don't have any windows to look out of. Furthermore, my work schedule used to require me being in the office from 3 p.m. until 1 a.m.

So for me, it didn't really matter if the sun went down at 5:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. I wasn't going to see it regardless here in my cubby hole.

But over the past couple of months, my schedule has changed to something a little more similar to daytime hours. Monday through Wednesday, I am all done by 7 p.m. And on Thursdays and Fridays, I am out of here by 6 p.m.

I've been able to have much more of a normal evening than I did in the past, and thus have been able to enjoy the sun being out later in the day.

I've been able to have nice dinners cooked by my wife at a regular dinner time. I've also been able to play with my son outside for a little while after I get off work, which was a little more difficult when I was getting home at 1:30 a.m.

As someone who has worked second shift my entire adult life, this almost takes me back to my childhood days when I was on a regular day schedule like everyone else.

This change was an adjustment at first but I've certainly enjoyed the evenings with my family as well as the sunshine that Daylight Savings Time has provided the past couple weeks.

It reminds me of all of the things that God wants us to see by getting out of our own little cubby holes.

When we get out and about, we can witness the beauty of the Lord's creations and can meet more of the Lord's children.

We can admire the rolling hills, the sparkling rivers and lakes, the lush forests, and the list goes on and on.

We can also find people and places that may be struggling too. They could be down on their luck, or just in a position where they've never gotten to know Jesus Christ.

As much of a joy as it is to see God's creations, it will be an even greater joy when you get out there and help God's creations.

Isaiah 42:16 says, "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."

We've all heard the lyrics, "Was blind but now I see." We're all blind in a way when we don't get out there and do what the Lord tells us to do. We're never going to see anything when we're in our own little cubby holes and only caring about ourselves.

So get out there and enjoy this nice sunshine while also being a light to someone else.

Brad Hall is the nighttime editor of the Times-Tribune. He can be reached at bhall@thetimestribune.com