Forest Darkroom 森林暗房
Dexu Xia
The army wouldn’t give Tony Vaccaro a chance as a photographer, but that didn’t stop him. Between terrifying moments of dodging artillery shells and shrapnel that seemed to rain from the trees, he took pictures anyway. Then, as his friends slept, he used their helmets to mix the chemicals to develop his film. The nighttime forest became the darkroom in which Vaccaro created a timeless record of World War II’s battle of Hürtgen Forest.
King David lived through his share of battles and dark times. Second Samuel 22 says, “The Lord delivered [David] from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (v. 1). David used those experiences to produce a record of God’s faithfulness. He said, “Waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me” (v. 5).
David soon pivoted from desperation to hope: “In my distress I called to the Lord,” he recalled. “From his temple he heard my voice” (v. 7). David made certain to praise God for His unfailing help. “The Lord turns my darkness into light,” he said. “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall” (vv. 29-30).
David turned his difficulties into an opportunity to tell the world about his faithful God. We can do the same. After all, we rely on the One who turns darkness into light. By: Tim Gustafson
When have you felt most desperate? How will you tell others about God’s faithfulness to you in that moment?
Dear God, please help me to see the many ways You protect and help me—especially when it’s darkest.
耶和华必照明我的黑暗。—撒母耳记下22章29节
在二战期间，虽然美军拒绝托尼·瓦卡罗（Tony Vaccaro）当战地摄影师，但却不能阻止他。当德军与美军在黑暗的许特根森林激烈战斗时，身为步兵的他在枪林弹雨中依旧拍摄许多照片。入夜之后，战友们都休息睡觉时，他就用他们的头盔调和化学药剂冲洗底片。夜间的森林成为瓦卡罗的暗房，让他为这场艰辛漫长的许特根森林战役留下永恒的记录。
大卫王经历了多场战役，也走过人生低谷。撒母耳记下22章记载：“耶和华救大卫脱离一切仇敌和扫罗之手”（1节）。大卫记录这些经历来纪念上帝的信实，正如他说：“曾有死亡的波浪环绕我，匪类的急流使我惊惧。”（5节）
但是大卫很快就从绝望转为盼望。大卫回忆说：“我在急难中求告耶和华，⋯⋯祂从殿中听了我的声音”（7节）。大卫定意要赞美上帝，因为上帝是他随时的帮助：“耶和华必照明我的黑暗。⋯⋯我藉着祢冲入敌军，藉着我的上帝跳过墙垣。”（29-30节）
大卫将自身的困境转为机会，向人介绍他信实的上帝。你我也能像大卫一样！毕竟，我们都是倚靠那位能将黑夜变为光明的上帝。作者： 葛庭墨
你曾在什么时候感到极其绝望？
你要如何让人知道，上帝在那时对你依旧信实？
亲爱的上帝，求祢让我看见祢用许多方式保护我、帮助我，
尤其是在最黑暗的时候。