LET IT SHINE!
While attending a conference, I returned to my motel room late one
evening. The overhead light outside my door was burned out and I had
difficulty finding the keyhole. When I managed to open the door, I
felt around the wall for a light switch. I found a plate where a
switch was once installed...but no switch.
Not discouraged easily, I remembered spotting a lamp by the bed when I
deposited my luggage earlier in the day. I found the bed in the dark
and felt around until I found the lamp, but when I switched it on,
nothing happened! Now what?
Though I knew that it was dark outside my window since the outdoor
light was broken, I thought that perhaps if I opened the curtains I
might be able to use the light from the street to find another lamp.
So I made my way slowly across the room to the drapes and...no
drawstring! (Have you ever had days like that?)
I finally stumbled around until I found a desk lamp that actually
worked! That evening I discovered in a whole new way just how dark the
world can be and how necessary light is.
But even more necessary than physical light is the light that shines
from people -- that light which illumines these dark recesses of the
spirit and warms the heart. The light of love and compassion and
faith. Because, for many people, the world is a dark and lonely place.
One December I received a letter from a reader in Mexico City who said
this about the darkness around her: "Yesterday I bought a Christmas
decoration. It's a plastic star, maybe 18 inches across, strung with
small white and gold Christmas lights. I hung it in my living room
window last night. It looks so beautiful from outside -- even better
than I had hoped! I live on the second floor of a five-story
government housing project building. The building where I live is
tucked away where few people go. Not a whole lot of folks see my
lighted star. As long as I have it plugged in, that star shines
bravely and brightly out into the cold night. It shines on regardless
of whether anyone is around to see it or not. And I know that anyone
who does see it must be heartened by it -- it's that lovely.
"I got to thinking, 'Isn't that the way we should be? Shouldn't our
lives in some way shine out into the cold night -- regardless of
whether or not anyone admires them? It's certainly nice when someone
notices us and is encouraged or heartened. But, after all, isn't it
the shining itself that is most important?'"
It is the shining that is important, whether or not you feel as if you
are making a difference. For someone today just may be stumbling in
discouragement or sadness or fear and in need of some light.
So let your light shine. Whatever light you offer may be a beacon of
hope and encouragement in someone's darkness. And if you feel that
your light is no more than a candle in a forest, remember this --
there isn't enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of
one small candle.
Will you let your light shine?
__________
Steve Goodier
Publisher@... is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for
more information, or to sign up for his FREE newsletter of Life, Love
and Laughter at
http://LifeSupportSystem.com.
