Light
/The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
on them light has shined.
-Isaiah 9:2
I was talking to someone the other day about how things so often seem to need to get much worse before they get better. And I said to my friend, who is not religious, that it seems that a crucifixion is an unfortunate prerequisite for resurrection. She said, “Oh! I never thought about those words that way!”
But no matter what words you use to describe this phenomenon, why is it that things do often seem to have to get worse before they get better? I certainly have no answer to why, but I do know from personal experience that suffering and hardship softens us and causes us look outside of our own individual resources for help. When you get to the end of your rope, or have lost your own ability to cope, or have been defeated by hardship, it is then that you are most likely to seek and accept the help of others and recognize your need for God.
And I think sometimes it’s easy to take the light for granted - because we are distracted by so many other shiny things in life. It’s when we find ourselves walking in darkness that we most need to seek the light that truly protects and saves. When we find ourselves living in a land of deep darkness, we seek the light of Christ. They say it’s darkest before dawn. Maybe the eyes of our hearts need to have their pupils dilated by darkness in order for the steady and abiding light that never fails to be made more clearly visible.
This Sunday we’ll be celebrating our Thrift Shop Ministry, which for many years has shared the light of Christ with others every day, rain or shine, sun or clouds. In our shop, people have found not only just a nice piece of clothing at a good price. They’ve found welcome, community and acceptance in a word that is sometimes pretty dark. I hope you’ll come and celebrate this important ministry with us - and to honor all those who have served on the Thrift Shop board over the years at a festive reception afterward. Help us celebrate and promote the light we have shared through this important community ministry.
