“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it”
(John 1:5)
“I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman’s charm is fifty percent illusion.”
Blanche Dubois – Streetcar Named Desire
Out of the Darkness
As we walked deeper into Mammoth Cave, we followed the ranger using only lanterns to guide our way. As we entered a chamber, we looked up to see a luminous glow from the ceiling of the cave. It was like looking at the night sky full of stars twinkling in the distance. The optical illusion of the Star Chamber made it feel that you were outside and not deep beneath the surface of the earth. Ralph Waldo Emerson once visited the same cave, which inspired a poem titled Illusions.
The modern world is full of illusions thanks to Hollywood special effects, green screens, photo editing, and filters. We can now remove objects and people from photos as if they were never even there. We have become a generation obsessed with maintaining an aura of perfection… at least on the surface. If we look too long at television, movies, and social media, we are looking at the stars of heaven only to realize we are staring at the ceiling of a cave.
Most illusions require a detailed focus on lighting. In Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire, the main character, Blanche, covers all the lamps and bulbs with lanterns or scarves because she doesn’t want anyone to see how she has aged. In some ways I can relate. How often have you looked at yourself in your mirror at home and thought you looked good only to see yourself in the harsh light of day and see all your flaws? The truth hurts sometimes, but The Truth really will set you free (John 8:32).
Light in Dark Places
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
(John 8:12)
Before someone can see the Light of the World, they often have to fall into total darkness. You’ve probably heard the cliché of having to hit rock bottom before you can look up. Sometimes God has to douse all of the false lights in life before His light is visible. It is into that darkness we are called to be a light. Into the messy places. Into the difficult places. Into the uncomfortable places.
In the movie series Signed, Sealed, Delivered, the character Norman who was adopted finally found his blood grandmother. He tells her that once when he was small, he was playing a game of hide-and-seek and got locked into a dark cellar. He was afraid until he saw a small sliver of light and realized that it would be okay. His grandmother said that Norman was her sliver of light.
Sliver of Light
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.”
(Luke 11:33)
Are you a sliver of light? You don’t have to be famous or popular. You don’t have to be a rising star. All you have to be is obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and you can be a sliver of light in the darkness, drawing people to the One who is the true Light of the World like the people in my childhood did for me. How do we do that?
- Look for opportunities like holding a door, speaking kindly to people in service industries, or letting people go in line first.
- Listen to people like children, the elderly, a frazzled mother of young children, or a stranger at the grocery store.
- Speak a word of encouragement for work well done, or if you sincerely admire an outfit or hairdo say it out loud.
You don’t have to search out alleyways (unless God calls you to) to be a sliver of light. We can be a light at work, the grocery store, or a restaurant. We just need to be willing, be aware, and be obedient when the Holy Spirit gives us a nudge. The Light of the World has come into your life, so share it with those you come in contact. You never know what one sliver of light can do to change the world.
Related Posts:
A Little Light – The End Of My Yarn (lindalyle.com)
Living in the Light: How do we have joy in dark times? – The End Of My Yarn (lindalyle.com)