You Are A Lighthouse

Sunrise, Murray River, with this fave sunbeam

I saw a quote the other day: you may be the lighthouse in someone else’s storm. It got me, because I’ve had people be a lighthouse for me, but I never thought I would be one to someone. Then, these verses came to mind: Ye are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14 & 16 

I’ve always thought of them in a witnessing context. We’re to be living a godly life, that will shine in the darkness of this world, and people will think ‘Wow, what have they got?!’ and want it for themselves. That’s true, but after thinking about it for a few days, I saw another message: we need to let our lights shine because they may be the beacon of hope to someone else who’s struggling. 

There’s another quote which has also been in my thoughts: your playing small does not serve the world. I want to play small; it’s much easier. I want to be that man in one of Jesus’ parables who digs a nice sturdy hole and puts his entrusted talent inside. (Matthew 25:14-30) But that servant was useless to the master; he didn’t want him in his service any longer. The other guys in the story used their talents, and the master promoted them because he could trust them with more. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes it’s easier - and even feels more Christian - to hide our talents and gifts; our light. We don’t want to big-note ourselves, we worry about whether the timing is right and what people will think. But it’s not actually about that: you have light and you need to shine it because it will make a difference in someone else’s life. God entrusted us with talents for the purpose of using them.

Sometimes I would like to find a shack in the bush and become a hermit; I want to stay low and be ‘normal.’ But does that serve the world? Does that bless anyone? Is hiding my light going to mean someone else hits rocks I could’ve helped them avoid? You mean, it’s selfish for me to curl up and protect my lil gifts out of fear of rejection or incapability?!

Maybe you need the reassurance like I do: You are the lighthouse in someone else’s storm. Your words or art or music or whatever it is – a text to say I’m thinking of you, a hug, helping with the dishes – might brighten someone else’s world. Playing small, toning down those talents and gifts and thoughts, doesn’t serve anyone. Embrace the gifts God has given you, and let that light shine! God made you on purpose, and as long as we try to bury that purpose we’re doing a disservice to ourselves and to others who are influenced by our lives.

In case you’re thinking ‘That’s great, but no one would ever be looking to me as their lighthouse’ let me reassure you: that’s not true. Every one of us has an influence, and we never know who’s watching us, relying on our encouragement, staying afloat because of our lives. The smallest thing you do out of habit could mean the world to someone else. You were all bright lights of encouragement to me on my previous post, and it meant so much (thank you!). Keep shining, my friends! You were given your beautiful light for a reason. xx