"You are the light of the world."

Candles in the Night

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”

St. Francis of Assisi

          My friend DeJuana creates songs extemporaneously and sings them as a way of gathering a moment, or a group of people, or honoring an individual. Her songs are not written down, because spirit doesn’t work that way for her, but she said something yesterday that I asked her to send me in a text. “As spirits of light, we are as fireflies emitting light into the darkness.” I latched onto that for two reasons—I have seen more fireflies this year than last, and I appreciate so much their tiny light. Perhaps there are more this year because fewer people are spraying poison on their yards. Then I saw a photo of bison resting in the waves on a California beach and remembered that this is 2020, and human activities have almost ceased in many places. At least, slowed down enough for some species to relax and make a slight comeback. That is also a light in the darkness.

          Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, said, “You are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14) Most days we may feel like our light is about as strong as a firefly’s but let us remember how much we love seeing them rise from the grass and blink their friendly glow on a summer night. Somehow, there is hope in their tiny incandescence. It tells us that our light doesn’t have to be 100 watts strong. It doesn’t have to light up the entire world. As St. Francis said, a single candle will help dispel the darkness.

          DeJuana asks: “Where do you allow your light to flicker and shine?” Good question. I wonder how many of us put a bushel over our brightness, as Jesus told us not to do. How many of us assume that our light is too insufficient to count? What possible good could it do, especially if we know we are also a source of some of that darkness—and all of us are. When you have that “my light doesn’t count” thought—that doubt in your own goodness—remember the fireflies. Remember how grateful you are when you see them light the night. Surely, your light is stronger than a glow-worm’s. After all, “You are the light of the world.” So, where do you allow your light to shine?

                                                            In the Spirit,

                                                            Jane