Let Your Light Shine

There's one image from today that stands out clearly in my mind. Handing out flyers this morning, Sean, Rebecca & I came to a home with a couple of little kids hanging out an open door. The oldest two came out and greeted us so we gave them both flyers for the VBS this week. They were obviously excited, so two younger kids followed out wanted flyers themselves. The youngest was a really cute 3 or 4 year old girl who didn't say much, but was so proud to have her own paper. Even though she couldn't read, she held on to that piece of paper for at least as long as we were walking down that row of houses with a smile on her face. As her older siblings shared their one bike, their mom could be heard inside the house- cussing. We never saw their mom. The kids followed us around the neighborhood with no one watching them. Down the street the smell of marijuana was strong. The apartments are small and very poor. There is hardly any privacy. No driveways, no backyards. Nothing but the park down the street where we will host the VBS. These kids, who were so proud to have their own flyer, are the reason we are here. They were thrilled to have us in their neighborhood and excited for us to come back this week.

These were just four kids out of many we met today and there will be many more for VBS this week. After we doorknocked this morning, we hung out at the park for a while. We are here for a short time. We will be in these kids lives for 3 days and then leave. We cannot change their situation. We cannot fix everything. We will not make them promises we can't keep. But there is something we can give them.

Light.

Jesus calls us in Matthew 5:16 to "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." That's the kind of light these kids need. They won't remember our names, what we said, the skits we wrote, the games we played. But they will remember the light that God shines through those who love Him and serve Him with their lives.

The light is not just for the kids. Just a couple verses earlier Jesus declares, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." After the lunch we headed to a very different park, Lake Eola Park. When you get an image in your head of Orlando, this is it. Beautiful lake, fun playgrounds, plenty of tourists and locals alike. But even with it's attraction, it too is filled with people who need light.

When we are filled with God's light, it should shine in everything we do; whether it's sitting by the lake, playing ultimate frisbee or talking with an LA Laker coach. We are called to be different. Mr. Dan has already emphasized one point to our group for this week (and for life): when you encounter someone, you need to say SOMETHING. Even if it's nothing specific and just a simple hello, we must remember that every single person who crosses our path is someone who needs the light. We aren't supposed to hide our light, but let it shine.

We have all been called to shine His light. It should be our response for what God has done for us. As Paul says in 2 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Do we need any better reason than that?

So what are you waiting for? Let your light shine!
-ej