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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?
