Until a few years ago, I failed to appreciate the bright lights illuminating stores, streets, and homes in the cities of the United States. Working in Thailand, Malaysia, and Brazil on mission projects over the last decade, I discovered that lights are not as abundant or as bright as they are in our cities.

Here, we go in a Kroger store day or night and the lighting is about the same. Lots of lights, extremely bright. This is not true in similarly busy groceries stores in those countries.

When we were driven down a primary artery in Kuala Lumpur after dark, we first thought there must have been a loss of power because the lights were dim. But we soon realized this is a way of life there. Streets off the main highways are dark in many parts of cities in these countries. Personal safety is at risk if you choose to walk or drive on such streets at night.

When I come home after these projects, I look forward to bright lights and a more comfortable feeling as I walk the streets and drive the interstate highways.