Lights in Dark Corners
[Looking for an easy & light Christmas read? The perfect gift. See JA’s co-authored book BELOW this post.]
** ** **
As is our custom, my daughter and I decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. We intentionally break away from the previous year’s configuration as much as possible and give each piece of decor a different view of my living room — except the nutcracker king, who faithfully stands guard under my pendulum wall clock.
The only difficult task is adorning the tree with lights. My tree hides in a corner and only two-third’s of it is visible to the observer. Successfully wrapping two strings of mini bulbs around the limbs in a pattern that effectively eliminates empty spots requires a dual effort. We both reach behind the tree and transfer the unraveling strand to each other, over and over, until my Spartan Juniper is fully arrayed.
After all that effort, a crazy thing happens. I won’t turn on the lights. I leave them unplugged unless I have company or until the sun goes down. On other days, I just plain forget.
This year, I thought, Why do I do that? Why not enjoy my Christmas lights all day, especially since this sight brings me so much pleasure?
Who else puts up lights but doesn’t turn them on? Does this yuletide abstinence reflect other areas of my life?
“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.”
Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message) Emphasis added.
Bring out the God-colors in the world — I love that image! We’re like the lights that He wraps around His giant tree. If God has always intended for us to be a bright city on a hill, why do some of us still hide in a bucket?
~
How Luminous Are We?
Do I fear to shine, fear being known as a Christian? A fear of persecution?
Is my bulb burned out, bringing apathy, being aware of the pain and lack all around me but not caring?
Do my lights over-flash from busyness, sending an I-don’t-have-time-for you message? Or how about the social-media Ebenezer Scrooge that tries to unplug everybody’s lights?
Or maybe we glow for our family only instead of being “generous with our lives.” We readily express our wants but are unwilling to give.
The person who lives in the cold and dark is seeking warmth and looking for light. As believers, we’re here for them. Have we embraced our Savior’s undying love enough to extend a light and love those He loves?
What if we walked through just one day, living as if we actually believed Jesus came to save the world? To live as if the presence of Christ, the Light that’s alive in us, really is exactly how God plans to meet another person’s needs.
Today, let’s be about our Father’s business. Let’s be His Love-Light. Let’s be Jesus to someone. This season, let’s light up our world.
Father in Heaven, I’m sorry for being so concerned with my own life that I’ve ignored the surroundings You’ve purposely placed me in. Open the eyes of my heart to see who You want me to shine Your love on. Help me daily to plug in the Lights. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Sowing Seeds of Bravery to Shine Brighter than Ever Before!
The perfect book/gift for the one who loves a good Christmas story. Buy it on Amazon “Grace takes delivery of a package and her life is turned upside down by nine sealed mystery envelopes from her late grandmother. Grammie’s instructions require Grace to take the journey of her lifetime, not only to far off places, but also into the deepest parts of her heart. As she follows the trail laid out for her and uncovers her family’s darkest secrets, Grace is forced to confront the loss and betrayal that has scarred her past and seek the greatest Christmas Treasure of all.” 
