Being the Light
I have mentioned before that as I mature (I’m not sure if I mean by age or faith or both), Christian music is touching my heart on an emotional level I didn’t think was possible. You see, I’m an analytical introvert (aka a nerd). So, most of my life, I’ve been able to detach myself from my emotions and look at both sides of almost every circumstance.
For example, a while ago, our son was in a drum and bugle corps where there was nationwide competition at the end for something akin to the World Series of Drum and Bugle Corps. For us, this meant that we had to go to Bloomington, Indiana for the nationwide competition. My wife was diligent and made lodging arrangements way in advance. We drove there after work so we knew that we weren’t going to arrive until late. In the car, I called the hotel and told them we’d be late checking in and offered to prepay the room. They assured us that it wasn’t a problem.
We arrived after midnight and were told that the hotel was booked and didn’t have any rooms. This perturbed my wife. We found out later that the hotel was struck by lightning a few days prior and it messed up their reservation system. The person we were talking to was the night person and had no authority to do anything. My wife was, how shall we say, upset.
The night person woke the manager who told her to call the police if we were making a disturbance (yes, she was). The police arrived and asked the night person what she wanted them to do (they weren’t inclined to arrest anyone). Eventually, with the calming influence of the police and the managers awoken influence, we had to wake my wife’s parents up and sleep on on the living room floor for several hours until they could get a room ready for us the next day.
The point of the story was not who was calm or not (it could have been either of us). But in retrospect, a calm head should have told us that the hotel wasn’t intentionally wronging us and even though the situation was unfortunate, we had to make the best of it.
I was thinking about this inner turmoil that we all go through while listening to a song “Save My Life” by Sidewalk Profits. I have copied a section of the lyrics below:
I'm the pastor at your church
For all these years you've listened to my words
You think I know all the answers
But I've got doubts and questions too
Behind this smile I'm really just like you
Afraid and tired and insecure
If you look me right in the eye
Would you see the real me inside
Would you take the time to
Tell me what I need to hear
Tell me that I'm not forgotten
Show me there's a God
Who can be more than all I've ever wanted
'Cause right now I need a little hope
I need to know that I'm not alone
Maybe God is calling you tonight
To tell me something
That might save my life
Now I can bring this all together to suggest that whether your having a good day or a bad day, feeling insecure or confident, one of your jobs is to be a light in the darkness for others to see.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
Our challenge should be to act in a way that even people who aren’t interacting with you directly should be blessed by seeing how you react and act to every situation. It is important to smile and be friendly. Let your light shine!
