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Shed a Little Light - October 03, 2006
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
We're losing light. After long evenings and waking to sunny mornings, this is the time of year when we really start to miss the light that has been disappearing since the start of summer. All nature senses the loss of light, as trees drop their leaves, animals prepare to hibernate, and birds know its time to head south. And we all feel the impact in varying degrees of loss. We lament the passing of those bright summer days or maybe even feel a down as we head toward the darkness of winter.
Given a choice between darkness and light, we prefer sunrays streaming through the bedroom window, light that illuminates our lives, brightness that makes us cheerful. We were created for light. Creation itself began when God said, "Let there be light." And He declared it good.
So, we can be forgiven if we might get a little down as light fades into darkness. But what about those people who live in darkness every day? There are people who might be our neighbors or coworkers who live in a kind of darkness that we may not see. They suffer from a power outage of the soul or have trouble seeing the light through their blindfolds of pessimism, or perhaps live in an underground of poverty where the light never shines.
For these people, we must let our light shine. Jesus said he was the light of the world and told us that we also can be lights in a dark world. We shine our lights by showing compassion for people in the darkness. It really doesn't take a lot of voltage to shed a little light in the world. Opportunities are out there every day. They've been referred to as random acts of kindness.
What if next time we're in heavy traffic we let another driver cut into line? How about signing that sheet at church that asks for volunteers to deliver a meal to a shut-in? Make the first move and offer a smile and warm greeting to the neighborhood grump. Step forward and serve before having to be cajoled to help out. Challenge the pessimist with the optimistic perspective.
I've let my light shine in big ways. But I've also found you can shed light in simple ways. Sometimes it's as easy as a few kind words. One of my favorites is encouraging a doubter with the simple phrase, "You Can Do It!" Something so simple has amazingly high voltage.
The days are getting shorter. Our time is getting shorter. Why wait? Shed a little light.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
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
We're losing light. After long evenings and waking to sunny mornings, this is the time of year when we really start to miss the light that has been disappearing since the start of summer. All nature senses the loss of light, as trees drop their leaves, animals prepare to hibernate, and birds know its time to head south. And we all feel the impact in varying degrees of loss. We lament the passing of those bright summer days or maybe even feel a down as we head toward the darkness of winter.
Given a choice between darkness and light, we prefer sunrays streaming through the bedroom window, light that illuminates our lives, brightness that makes us cheerful. We were created for light. Creation itself began when God said, "Let there be light." And He declared it good.
So, we can be forgiven if we might get a little down as light fades into darkness. But what about those people who live in darkness every day? There are people who might be our neighbors or coworkers who live in a kind of darkness that we may not see. They suffer from a power outage of the soul or have trouble seeing the light through their blindfolds of pessimism, or perhaps live in an underground of poverty where the light never shines.
For these people, we must let our light shine. Jesus said he was the light of the world and told us that we also can be lights in a dark world. We shine our lights by showing compassion for people in the darkness. It really doesn't take a lot of voltage to shed a little light in the world. Opportunities are out there every day. They've been referred to as random acts of kindness.
What if next time we're in heavy traffic we let another driver cut into line? How about signing that sheet at church that asks for volunteers to deliver a meal to a shut-in? Make the first move and offer a smile and warm greeting to the neighborhood grump. Step forward and serve before having to be cajoled to help out. Challenge the pessimist with the optimistic perspective.
I've let my light shine in big ways. But I've also found you can shed light in simple ways. Sometimes it's as easy as a few kind words. One of my favorites is encouraging a doubter with the simple phrase, "You Can Do It!" Something so simple has amazingly high voltage.
The days are getting shorter. Our time is getting shorter. Why wait? Shed a little light.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
