Light
Being a light
Reflecting light
Spreading light
Shining light
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:3-4
There's no doubt that this world has enough darkness. Too much darkness. But maybe, if those of us who have light just let our little lights shine and light other candles and spread the light then we can drive out some of that darkness. And in so doing, we can ease a little of this world's burden.
For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalm 18:28
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
The morning after the historic election I woke with much optimism, a feeling of peace. But I know not everyone feels this way. I know there is much unrest, much fear, much anger. I hope there is unity to be had in this great country. As I shine my light in my corner, I hope others shine their lights in their corner and we can point others to the beacon of hope, and that hope lies not in a President or a government or in ourselves but in Christ alone, the one true light.
Later, in the morning after the election, I drove down the island. I stopped by a marina, looking for a sense of perspective while the rest of the world seemed to be in such upheaval. Perspective comes to me in moments, in tiny details, in fresh air, in change of scenery.
Same day, I had the opportunity to meet Nancy Pearl. The book nerd in me looks to her as somewhat of a hero. As a retired librarian, she now spends her time writing books of recommendations, reviewing books, speaking with people about books, and she has even written a novel (due out next fall). She is the book lover that all book lovers should measure themselves by. And for that little while, while I sat in the audience at the Center for the Arts, I was encouraged as a reader and I was inspired as a writer. I even fan-girled out and got her autograph in my book journal!! Squee!!
This next picture is less about me and more about that massive gilded frame in the ladies' room at the Center for the Arts. Would you look at that thing!?
While I ruminate on being light and all the things that means, I was recipient of someone else's beam of light this week. And can I say, THANK YOU for just wanting to do something nice for someone. THANK YOU for wanting to give without expectation of anything in return. THANK YOU for shining your light.
We were given a new-to-us stove. And she is a beauty. Yes, she. This beauty comes with convection oven options, delayed cooking options, proofing options. And I look at her and think, WOW.
There is the matter of having to cut a hole in the floor to install the output fan, and perhaps insetting the outlet so she sits more flush against the wall. But I don't bother myself with those details and dance willy-nilly about the kitchen while baking pumpkin Snickerdoodles and berry pie.
One last thought:
We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are,
but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.
-Madeline L'Engle
