In case you’ve been somewhere that didn’t have access to any news, those of us who live along the Emerald coast of Florida just went through a pretty powerful hurricane. Elgielene and I have driven around town since things have started clearing up. And there is widespread destruction. Trees snapped like toothpicks. Other trees pulled right out of the ground. And I don’t mean just a little ones. In some cases, very large trees uprooted. One of the trees next-door fell on my sister-in-law’s house. And it did quite a bit of damage. She has to get a whole new light for the side of the house. And she has to get her roof repaired. And she had to pay a lot of money to have the tree cut up and removed.
Another large tree was yanked out by the roots right by the corner of our bungalow. Fortunately, for us, it fell in the opposite direction. It tore up a fence and landed on a shed in another neighbor’s yard. And an entire wooden fence, just a few feet from our front door was mowed down like straw. We were glad power was out only about 3 days, and they weren’t miserably hot and humid.
I didn’t actually start writing this to give you a report of our post hurricane circumstances. But what happened is a small example of how dark this ol’ world can get. And, when that happens, I think it’s crucial to remember that light overcomes darkness. In fact, darkness is just the absence of light. That leads me to this next point.
You’re a whole new light.
Or at least you are if and when you take on the light and love of Jesus. Paul, the apostle to you and me, wrote a letter to the Christians in Ephesus and told them to “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” And he wrote a letter to the Philippians and told them to “shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…”
The darker this world gets, the brighter you shine. But the brighter you shine, the more this world will hate, mock, and persecute you. I know. That seems more than a tad bit unfair. But Jesus said the world hated, mocked, and persecuted Him first. And He never even sinned, much less commit a crime. Yeah, He knows, from personal experience, how unfair this life is. And He still inspired Paul to tell us to shine. So, how ’bout it? Ready to go out there, like a floodlight, and shine in the dark even though this world is…
Not Fair
You’re born to parents you don’t get to choose,
And you just have to trust that they care.
They pick your clothes and your food and your stuff,
And you learn fast that life is not fair.
As you grow up you discover some things
About water and mountains and air.
You think your big brain should earn you rewards,
And you find out that life is not fair.
One day you wake in a place of your own,
Watch the news, and see pain everywhere.
You decide you can’t ignore it away,
And you’ll help because life is not fair.
Then, when you serve others, you one day find
A real joy that, before, wasn’t there.
And living will glow in a whole new light
Even though this old life isn’t fair. © 2017 TF
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