Speaking of Light

I read last night about a friend who saw the light.

She stopped her car and ignored the speeding cars to stand on the side of the road because the sun going down could not go unnoticed.

The same sun is now just a thin line gradually making its way up through the layered navy blue.

My feet are bare and the ground is cold, I am pleased to find it at just the right second, I saw the light.

Before sleep last night I read the seventh day’s Psalm. My mind must have been yearning for tomorrow.

Now, I’m reading again to remember.

Psalm 31, a psalm of David is a commitment to God.

“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31:7-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

David asks for mercy, asks again to see the light.

“Let your favor shine on your servant.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31:16‬ NLT

He knew the light was not be taken for granted. He knew his feet failed him at times, ventured from the light.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to be seekers. Seekers of good, seekers of satisfaction other than wealth, seekers of rewards and riches, not here on earth but in heaven.

In Luke, Chapter 6, there’s a record of quite a lot.

Jesus corrects the critical Pharisees, he heals a man with an unusable hand, he named his disciples, teaches a multitude of people, talks about the things we seek that leave us full but empty, talks about loving our enemies, strongly warns against judgment of others, tells us people will know we know Him by the fruit we produce and finally, tells us to build our house of hope on the solid rock of faith foundation.

Jesus made it his mission to leave us not only, through His death to eternal salvation; but, through the recorded words of his time on earth, He left us light for our lives.

His words lead us, convince us, challenge us.

His words give us courage to express and invite.

Last night, I surprised someone. I’d been thinking about it for some time.

The church I attend has an exceptionally talented band. The drummer is very good. The guitarists, the singers, there’s not a member not talented, it is impressive.

The music is not “easy listening” always. It challenges me to allow myself more freedom in worship.

There’s a guy who’s a rocker in my boot camp class. He requests hard rock of the trainer every session. There’s an occasional obscene lyric, there might be references to party and drugs. The speakers are mounted just above the treadmill and last night I worked out next to him. I concentrated on my own feet, as his feet were pounding hard against the movement and with the bass and loud songs.

It was just three of us at the end and I reached for my coat and water, deciding to ask him then.

“Do you have a church?” I asked.

Caught off guard, he asked me to ask again.

I did and he answered no and so, I told him about mine and about the music and told him I hadn’t intended to catch him by surprise, it’s just that every time I hear the band I think of how I think he’d like to be there.

He smiled, this same rough from life around the edges man who’d made me smile before when we were all discussing age and parents and I’d told them all that both of mine were dead.

He looked over at me and said, “I know they must have been good people because you’re good, you’re a good person.”

I’m thinking of it now, how he made me feel light, how his words brought light to my long day.

Jesus did the same. He used His words.

Words are light and love.

Lord, tell me what to say.

May my words come from my heart and may I not ignore your Spirit prompting me to speak.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

May I be unafraid to speak of your light in my life.

May I continue to seek it.