Me? Light?

The world I see through my window is dark.

I cannot see little ground animals scurry from bush to bush, nor the delicate limbs of the mesquite tree wave in the wind. Darkness covers the world that I experience at this moment. But, in my house, in the place where I sit at this moment, one lamp shines from the corner of my desk. It is not a powerful light, not spotlight or lighthouse for the world’s benefit. In my house…

And I think of the words of Jesus: You are the light of the world…you Tom and Marilyn and Paul and Patty; all of you…all of us…We are the light of the world. He tells us who we are, and then He tells us what to do. Shine. The little lamp on the corner of my desk shines, and I can see. Shine, isn’t that who we are; isn’t that what we said we would do?

Beginning today, try this: Remind yourself every morning in your waking up routine…I am light. I am meant to shine. Today I will consciously and intentionally shine. Then, as you prepare to sleep in the night, sit on the edge of your bed and ask yourself: where and how was I light today? Where and how did light shine through me today? Don’t settle for “I had a nice thought or I was courteous to the sales clerk or I waved at my neighbor.” Shine. Make a difference. Don’t be content with casual light. Enter the day with the intention to shine and then name it when you sit on the edge of your bed and reflect on the day.

If we don’t shine with courageous intention, we are imposters. If we refuse to shine because of possible consequences or because we are afraid, we perpetuate darkness.

We are the light of the world, to the world, in the world. Darkness grows stronger, but we are stronger yet…if we shine. Don’t leave it to someone else. Justice and Truth and Mercy and Self-giving Love can be hidden by darkness, and darkness thrives where there is no Light.

Be Light. Shine.