Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12
Hurricane Matthew!
There may be a fierce hurricane looming on the horizon #HurricaneMatthew – but here in Wake Forest we can’t help but celebrate the first week of October, and this refreshing shift in seasonal temperatures; it reminds me how grateful I am for the annual pattern of spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Even the aging (aren’t we all?) Scout Labradoodle has perked up, and she is showing more interest in walks than she has since early May. Yesterday after supper we walked through the park to watch the evening sky, and we were rewarded with the beautiful views you see here.
The gift of light:
Then, this morning, I took a couple of the same views in an entirely different light, and it made me cognizant of the role light plays in how we see the world around us. In the evening the light draws attention to the sky, whereas in the daytime it illuminates the world around us.
And I thought about how at times I lift my eyes up to God – I need to, to receive the nourishment of God’s glory and light; and how at other times God simply lights up the world around me, helping me to see more clearly, and in consequence to serve more completely.
I need to look to the light to be filled, and I need to look back to the world, with the light shining through me, in order to serve.
- I need to look to the light to be filled, and I need to look back to the world, with the light shining through me, in order to serve.
God’s gift of the light is not just to inspire me, but to direct me too.
That’s a good thought to sit with for a while, isn’t it? God’s gift of light is not there simply to inspire me – to inspire us, the gift of light is in place to direct me – to direct us, to walk in God’s path with Jesus, and to serve this broken world.
In love, and because of love – DEREK
