“Here come the sun, here comes the sun, and I say, it’s all right. Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here. Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say, it’s all right.” — HERE COMES THE SUN (The Beatles)
Here in Alaska, we are celebrating the abundance of LIGHT. The sun came up at a bright and cheery 4:15 am this morning. And thanks to summer solstice, it won’t be saying its goodbyes until around 11:40 pm or so. Totally crazy, I know.
Every day we are gaining light. The trees and leaves love it. The gardens love it. The grass and the flowers love it, as do we all. Soaking in its rays and basking in its warmth. Reaching leaves and fingers toward heaven. Our souls coming alive, birthing hope and saying farewell to hibernation.
Makes me think of our response as believers. To the Light. To the Son. Yes, we will rejoice when He comes to earth again. But what will we do in the meantime while we wait for the Light to return?
For time is fleeting and we want to make these moments count.
And while we’re looking for ways to live each day to its fullest, let’s teach our children the power of being a light in a dark world. The power of contrast. The power of our Redeemer — the Light of the World.
Let’s show our children by our words and actions the impact of being a city set on a hill; a lamp on a lampstand; strong believers who will stand firm, no matter what, even in the midst of darkness, because we are fueled by the ultimate Source.
I know, I know. It all sounds very shiny and sparkly, and maybe a bit Pollyanna-ish. Honestly, how can we realistically be light givers? Just one evening of watching the news makes us want to crawl under a blanket and not come out. Like ever.
Thankfully we don’t have to manufacture all this light on our own. We are simply reflecting that which is already in existence.
We can mirror the Light by staying in close proximity to it. That means plugging into God’s Word, listening to His Spirit, and leaning in close to His Heart. Allowing His hands to shape and form how we think and act. From everything we talk about and sing about, to what we surf on the web.
That means living it out. Every day. In the nitty gritty. In the good. And in the hard. Not in a “Hey look at me — I’m so holy” kind of way. But rather a humble walk defined by faithful steps in the every day. Looking to Him for direction. Eyes fixed on Him. Ear pressed to His Word, listening for what He would have for us today.
Being a light doesn’t mean a state of perfection. It simply means shining for Him. Like a flashing firefly on a warm summer night. Stick us in a jar and we’ll glow Jesus. (Hypothetically speaking, of course.)
The darker our world becomes, the more the need for light is apparent.
So let’s utilize today and leave a memorable mark. For those He puts in our path. For our children. For our community. For our world.
See the Light.
Receive the Light.
Be the light.
P.S. – For those of you curious about the phenomenon of summer solstice and what that looks like for Alaskans, here’s a breathtaking VIDEO revealing the majesty and creativity of our God.
Anne-Renee Gumley
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