Gimme a light

I've been thinking of the lights in our lives. No, not light bulbs and smelly candles. The lights that come to us through our family and friends. Some people are just light bringers. They shine through their smiles, their laughs, their hugs. They just can't seem to help it! I'm not sure it's a conscious thing--this light bringing. I know a woman who, although she is very sick, can still light up any corner of the room she enters with her presence. She doesn't really do anything spectacular or showy. She just, well, shows up. And each time she does, people around her smile more often, exchange greetings with others after she walks away and you can see the path she has woven through a crowd.

I was reading a devotion today that reminded me of the kid's song, "This Little Light of Mine." You remember that one? We sing it once in a while to remind us about the light we each carry around with us. But we also need to remember where the light came from and what we do with our lights. As caretakers of the light given to us by God, we are compelled to share with others. Now sometimes we don't want to share the light because, well, I guess there are lots of reasons. It feels pretty good to bask in the light of God, so why share it? Won't it be colder if we "spread it around"? Or maybe we worry that someone would be offended by the light--it isn't the right wattage or the right company. It's safe to keep the light to ourselves. But I believe the light was meant to be shared, savored and given out as much as possible. Like the woman I know, it's better to give the light, then stub your toe in the darkness.

So let's share some light this week with each other, not just at church, but wherever we go. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.