The Light of the World

The beach is a favorite vacation destination for many people, and beachgoers all seem to have their favorite time to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf. Some love the action of midday, surrounded by people and peak UV exposure. Others prefer the cold sand and mysterious swish of the waves after dark. I fall into the third category of beachgoers. I cherish quiet mornings under the rising sun. My complexion disagrees with midday activity, and my fear of sea creatures and strangers keeps me away at night. Give me a beach chair and a book in the morning hours, though, and I’m as happy as a clam.

Unfortunately, I don’t get the opportunity to catch the sunrise on most beach trips. I am a mom, so my mornings are filled with Pop-Tarts and snuggles. Recently, however, I got away with some dear friends to a small cottage on the Gulf Coast. My mornings were my own, and I made every effort to maximize my early morning beach time.

My internal clock and longing to see the sunrise prompted me to rise early each morning. But it wasn’t until the last day of our trip that I actually beat the sun to the beach.  The humidity of the Southern summer swallowed me whole as I followed the path to the water. The Gulf seemed suspended in midair, the fog so thick I couldn’t even make out the water’s edge.

I sat in my beach chair, eyes fixed on the eastern horizon. I was disappointed in the conditions that limited my view of the sun. The gray mist surrounding me began to relent, giving way to lighter shades of yellow and pink. While I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment the sun started to peek over the horizon, I knew it was there because I was suddenly surrounded by light.

The same holds true for God. While I cannot see him face to face, his light is all around me.

“You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14, 16, ESV).Darkness surrounds us. The thick fogs of terror and hatred threaten to shield our view of all things lovely and right. Spend five minutes scanning the headlines, and it’s easy to lose all hope. The string of hateful comments on a controversial social media post can make anyone feel like giving up on humanity.

The children of God are in the middle of the darkness, holding out candles of hope. Do you see them? The pastor whispering truths in a secret church in Asia. The mother singing hymns over her crying newborn. The high school student supporting a classmate whose lifestyle differs from his own. The lawyer who walks away from the high-rise firm to care for the homeless.

And you. You are here with us around this table of grace. You breathe in truth and encouragement and turn to your neighbor to share hope. You, too, are the light of the world.

We stand with you in the darkness and refuse to look away from the eastern horizon. God is here with us. His light shines through us, diminishing the darkness and the fog.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man 17 years ago. She has three energetic blessings, ages 1 to 11. Her favorite indulgences are coffee, reading, writing, and running. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.