My little light

There are two ways of spreading the light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. –Edith Wharton


Advent is upon us. This week, we lit the first candle in the wreath, the candle of Hope. Now we begin four Sundays of waiting, watching, listening—remembering when Love first came down at Christmas. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to perceive even a glimmer of light in the midst of a cold, dark winter, and even harder to believe my little light can make any difference at all in the world. Every headline, every story on the evening news reminds us how far the world has wandered from the loving good news of the gospel. Even on days when my light burns brightly, it barely lights my corner of the city.

In the face of expansive evil in the world and problems faced by people across the globe, it’s tremendously important to remember: I cannot do everything, but I can do one thing.

I can buy one book to donate to our local schoolchildren. 

I can fill one bag of groceries for the local food bank. 

I can buy a cup of coffee or a sandwich for someone whose stomach is chronically empty.

 I can let my little light shine with a hug and a smile. 

This week, let’s focus on the little things. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe my light will kindle a fire in another. Remember that old song from church camp? It only takes a spark. . . .


Monday Begin your week with gratitude. Instead of moaning or whining about it being Monday, pause and reflect on one good thing. Thank God. Philippians 2:14-16

Tuesday Make today a “Twos-day.” Choose two people with whom to share a bit of God’s love, whether through a smile, a joke shared together, or something more. Luke 3:11

Wednesday What can you do today to help someone “get over the hump”? How about offering a ride to someone who doesn’t drive, or spending time in conversation with someone who lives alone? Psalm 30:11-12

Thursday When was the last time you went through your cupboards and donated something you thought you’d eat but changed your mind? (Be sure to check the dates and throw away anything beyond its “use by” date.) Matthew 25:35-36

Friday Not everyone looks forward to Friday. Do you know a child (or grownup) who has a different home on the weekend? Offer them a loving smile as they go (and watch for their return). Pray for their time away. Proverbs 31:30

Saturday As you pray for yourself, reflect again on the many blessings God has given. Rest in God’s loving embrace. Ezekiel 34:25-31

Sunday This morning during worship, take note of someone who is missing. Send a card, make a phone call or offer to visit them. Include them in your prayers. Exodus 23:6-7


In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present. –Francis Bacon

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spiritual dehydration

  Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up. –Pearl S. Buck   The past two years (at least) have been exhausting, haven’t they? We had a pandemic that physically left us anxious and afraid. Our churches, where we go for nourishment, were closed or online longer than we wanted—and even now, we are careful. Politically, we have been divided against one another, and those wounds are still bleeding in many cases. We need to take care of ourselves. And it’s never been more difficult. What to do? How do I make time in our busy schedules—for me ? The simple answer: Whatever it takes. Remember when we would fly to a vacation destination? How the flight attendant would remind us that if the cabin loses pressure, the oxygen masks would drop down out of the ceiling? And that before we offer to help anyone else, we need to have our own masks in place ? Good advice for life in general. Today: Pause. Take inventory ...
Read more

What are you waiting for?

  The waiting is the hardest part. –Tom Petty   We spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting for the coffee to finish dripping. Waiting for the light to turn green. Waiting for the next available agent. It’s inevitable, really. We cannot always be first, and if we aren’t first, we’ll have to wait. But I think the more important thing is to ask yourself: How am I at waiting? Do I find myself getting anxious and fidgety? Am I worrying about things not going the way I really need them to go? Is my attitude rubbing off on people around me? The best way to wait is not to worry where we are in line, or gripe about wasted time. The best way to wait—is to be right there , in the moment of waiting. The disciples waited in fear; we wait in hope. Why not use this waiting time to pray? Welcome God’s presence into your heart. Ask God to bring you into the moment. Inquire what God would ask of you in this moment . Thank God for wisdom, patience, humor. . . . Take a d-e...
Read more

Don't be afraid.

Living is a great deal more than simply not dying. It is carrying out a mission, committing oneself to fashion some meaning that will attain eternity. –Leonardo Boff When asked, “What are you afraid of?” we offer a myriad of answers: snakes, spiders, flying in an airplane. But when pressed, many people, believers and non-believers alike, will admit that the one thing they fear most, at the core of their being, is death. Most of us enjoy having control over our lives, and frankly, we have very little control over, or way of knowing, how or when our earthly journey will end. And we have even fewer concrete answers about what will happen next. We have the profession of our faith and the occasional “crossing-over” story—but. No wonder death is near the top of that list. But sometimes, as I look around, it seems like people are less fearful about dying—and more afraid of living. Really cutting loose and enjoying our time together as human beings privileged to live in God’s am...
Read more