Shining Brightly

Author Sue Monk Kidd once told a story about when her daughter was small and got the seemingly small part of the Bethlehem star in a Christmas play. After her first rehearsal, she burst through the door with her costume, a five-pointed star lined in shiny gold tinsel designed to drape over her like a sandwich board. “What exactly will you be doing in the play?” her mother asked her. “I just stand there and shine,” her daughter answered.

I love that!

My friend Debbie Abbott was the Christian Educator a previous church I served. I’ll never forget that when asked how she was doing, she would inevitably respond, “Shining brightly!” She also was ever encouraging the children to respond in the same way.

Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before others in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

I pray that in your own life, through your kindness to others, through your generosity, through your work for what is right and just, through your acts of compassion, you would ever find ways to shine brightly!

Let us pray: God of hope, I pray today especially for those who are carrying heavy burdens and for others who are struggling to get by day today. It is hard to shine when you feel you are at the end of your rope. I ask you to meet them at the deepest point of their need. Wash over them, and each of us, with your grace that we might be filled anew with your Spirit. May your light pierce even the dark and shine on through. Amen.