BY KLAUS DÖRING
THROUGH our lives, God teaches us to follow His word and abide with Him. However, He also asks us to be a light to others, which means sharing our faith with others around us.
The validity of Jesus’ testimony has been explained in John 8:12-30: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Being the light means doing your best to live each day on purpose and in a way that’s pleasing to God. It means showing kindness and compassion to others and yourself. It’s about looking for opportunities to be more like Jesus, to lift others up, and to do the right thing.
To be the light means in times of darkness you offer hope, encouragement, kindness and compassion. In times where others are struggling you offer a way to help them to regain their glow and to shine.
As I look around, I find many of our so-called leaders, who demand us to follow them, and I hope we open our eyes and minds before we blindly follow them blind.
“I am the light of the world!” Admittedly, this sounds for many people a reconditioned exuberance while trembling to what might happen if they are not able to pay the next electric bill. Did you observe yourself that electric bill amounts keep on rising and rising since staying in the home office because of the pandemic and the awesome hot summer?
If we manage to overcome the “Follow-me-I’m-the light”-phonies, and after we manage to find solutions in paying our electric bills, we then sit still in our houses and plan to light a candle for our prayers.
The other side of the season should make us remember that we should never hesitate to show our good hearts even amid a crisis by rendering services to others with passion and enthusiasm. There is nothing really stronger than from the heart of a volunteer.
To be the light means in times of darkness you offer hope, encouragement, kindness and compassion. In times where others are struggling you offer a way to help them to regain their glow and to shine. To see the good and the beautiful – it is in this that truth is re-established. To “Be the Light” may be to offer wisdom and guidance, or just to sit with someone, and be the presence they need. It may be offering strength to those that are in a moment’s weakness, or offering a smile and joy to someone in random parts of your day.
When I think of being the light, I think of my favorite smile, and how it makes me feel. I think of the ways other people have helped my heart to glow even brighter than it has in the past, from a kind word that is said, through encouragement, through a smile that is given or joy that is shared. In deeper relationships it is through the physical touch of someone, the love that is shown and the intimacy that is present, or sharing oneself intimately with another.
Sometimes to “Be the Light” means to carry on the torch for what needs to be completed or be made new. It may mean to give of yourself in a new way to a situation or cause or relationship you are in. It may also mean to just be still and show that nothing really needs to be said at a given time, until the time is right. “To Be the light” is to foster peace and to show others the joy that is present. It also means that you try to protect your flame from being blown out – so that you can be the light, and so that light remains. In all truth, beauty, and goodness, we are the light. In times of trial and struggle it means to illuminate what is wonderful. This is not always an easy task… Sometimes, we can find it beyond difficult to be the light, but, in these moments, when we focus on what is divine we are more able to be the light.
In concrete reality, being the light may be loving someone despite their flaws. It may mean helping people through situations they do not know how to overcome, it could be empowering others to overcome whatever they are facing. It could be holding someone’s hand so they can feel love and know it to be real. Or smiling at the person you are in love with just because you are in love with them and adore them. It could be reaching out to that person you have not talked to in a long time, to let them know you care and that they have value and worth; to let them know they are not forgotten. It may be to radiate joy and celebrate the blessings that are present in life.
I am the light of the world. Let’s try putting this concept into our minds, hearts and souls. I am pretty sure we’ll not walk in darkness especially during this enlightening season and the dramatic cuts in our daily life because of this pandemic.
“Made His light shine in our hearts.” (2 Co 4:6).
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Email:doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicmusic.blogspot.com./PN
