Shine Your Light...

On Tuesday, citizens of our great country exercised their tremendous freedom and cast votes to elect our next president. I took a vacation day to work the polls at my township hall and for the thirteen hours the polls were open, I watched the privilege of our democracy in progress. It was fun and exciting to see brand-new voters, both teens and senior citizens alike, cast their first vote along with the throngs of veteran voters. With eager anticipation, I arrived at home to watch the returns and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning hoping to witness the announcement of the victor. Unfortunately, sleep arrived before either candidate reached the 270 magic number.

On Wednesday, I woke to the news of a truly historical upset and a country seemingly on edge.

Huh?

What happened to us?  We have become a country of angry, divided, Facebook-spouting wackos. Protesting. Rioting even.

Growing up, I was taught to be a humble winner and a gracious loser. I was taught that adversity brings learning and growth. I was taught to shine the light of Jesus in the darkest times.

Tonight, a simple trip to the bathroom helped me remember a few things. Actually, it was our bathroom's night light that caused me pause.  The soft glow of the night light lit the darkness well enough for me to see my way.

Yet when I flipped the wall switch, the bright light of the overhead bulb's energy completely illuminated the room.

Ah yes. I'm commanded to shine the light of Jesus to others.  My light is bright enough for others to see, and yet when we switch over to him, it's Jesus' light that illuminates the world.

And so today, I'd like to offer a challenge:  In the darkness of our world, shine your light. Respect others. Shine the light of Jesus so others might be attracted to the warmth and glow of His true and beautiful love

“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 5:16 (The Message)