This Little Light

While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.” Luke 11:27-36

Years ago, I had knee surgery in an orthopedic hospital in Baltimore, which specialized in children's needs. I was a grown woman of 21 and wondered why I was there. My doc explained they had the best rehab facilities. After surgery, I had a good deal of pain and was feeling sorry for myself. The nurse, noticing my not smiling face, asked if I wanted to see the special guests visiting that day. It happened a theater troupe, and I was curious and agreed. She wheeled me in and sat me in a room which was mostly empty. In a few moments, I was joined by dozens of small children, some in multiple casts in wheelchairs and others in striker frames. They were all smiling and waving at grumpy me. Their situations were much worse, yet they could shine their little lights despite it all. May we all shine our lights, no matter how dark it seems today.

Loving Creator, you send the brilliant sun

and you water the earth with rain and snow

we delight in the bright and cheerful days

and complain when the rain and snow fall.

You turn the earth so we can see diversity

in seasons, in light, and in one another

yet we only want the simple moments

and don't want to see the more complicated.

Help us to let our light shine today

despite the pain and sorrow we feel

even when we are wracked with pain

for the world needs our little lights today. Amen.