Someone left the light on…
As Eoghan and I were going for a walk last week, I noticed that the streetlamps of one block near the middle of Downtown hadn’t turned off. It had been several hours since the sun went down and all the other lights that line the streets of Portland had long since turned dark, yet these lights were still going strong. “Burning the mid-day oil,” one might say.
I realized how profound a sight it was to see these lights shining in the middle of the day–uncalled for and out of place. Even on a busy downtown street with all that’s going on all around it was impossible not to notice their display. Granted, these lights didn’t say anything; they held no lofty banners, they could not speak. They didn’t express to passersby their thoughts or beliefs, and yet it was plain to see how they stood there–lights still shining–as if they had a cause, an ambition, or something that was leading them to do so.
May we, as Christians be willing to act as such. When everyone else around us has turned off their light and given in to the day–the predominent light that seems to flood and fill every open space on the earth–may we still stand and shine. I’ll leave you with Jesus’ words from a classic passage, although we’ll use the modern vernacular of THE MESSAGE: Maybe it’ll shed a new light.
Downtown, Fifth Avenue, 1948, Portland, Oregon.
”Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” –Matt. 5:14-16[TheMessage]
Salt & Light, DREW
(P.S. while writing this just now “There is a light that never goes out” by The Smiths came on the radio. It was awesome; truly divine. That song has a whole new context now…no longer just a morbid love song)
Cortnie, This is wonderful…YOU are a light, shining 24/7. Thanks for sending rays of praise for the bright light out into my world!