Big-Headed Selfie

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Go ahead. Laugh out loud. This must be the worst selfie of all time.

In August, my closest friend, Joanna, and I spent two weeks in England. We had an amazing time. (Eat your heart out, everyone!) We did all the tourist things, including a visit to King’s College in Cambridge, a 500 year-old building that’s part of Cambridge University. The architecture is amazing and the interior is breathtaking. Can you imagine studying history in a place like that?

Anyway, we wanted to get a picture of the two of us standing in front of a wing of this beautiful building. So we decided we’ve give this selfie thing a try. Neither of us had done it before. Well, I had, with similar disastrous results.

Later, when I looked at this picture, I realized that, sometimes, this is an image of my life. Too many days, the beauty of Jesus is hidden behind my big head. I can be: 

self-centered, 

self-conscious, 

self-important, 

self-absorbed, 

and a whole list of other self-words.

My light doesn’t always shine because it’s shaded by my words and actions.

A few years ago, my sister and I were traveling to a Christian writers conference – remember the word Christian. We got to the airport late (my fault) and the poor lady at the check-in area told us that, although we would make the flight, our bags would not. I had a fit. I said my favorite airline wouldn’t have any trouble getting my bags on the plane. I think I must have used the word stupid about ten times.

Talk about light-less, that was me!

That poor woman didn’t see Jesus, she saw me – and it wasn’t a pretty picture.

We all have light-less moments. Gossip spread in the form of prayer requests. A slightly off-color joke. Anger when it’s unwarranted.  Unforgiveness because we’re too proud to admit we were wrong.

Ouch.

When we feel the urge to slip into self-centeredness, let's remember the words of this childhood song:

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

When you are in a situation where you want to show self rather than Jesus, how can you focus on His light?