Let It Shine
by Steve Goodier
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@LifeSupportSystem.com 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.