I took this photo in a medieval village near Lyon, France, in 2004. What a stunning place for an Aussie like me – we don’t have many old buildings here as we’re a relatively young nation, and the ancient aboriginal people (the land’s original inhabitants) were nomadic.
I’m pondering the idea of light today. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” He promised that if we walk with him we will not walk in darkness. Jesus also challenged us to be the light of the world: to let our acts of kindness shine, so that God will be honoured through our lives.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like this old, rusty lamp. I’m full of good intentions, but self-absorption always seems to get in the way! I’m encouraged when I look at this photo. It reminds me that even our feeble, imperfect attempts at being kind to others are beautiful, just like this lamp is beautiful. It’s not fancy or shiny or perfect, but it still attracts your gaze.
Jesus, thank you for being our light. Thank you for coming into the world to show us the way to God. Help us not to become discouraged by our failures, because your light never fades even when our own feeble flames flicker. Thank you that there’s a particular beauty in rusty, faint lights like ours! Please use us to shine your love to those around us today, in small, sacrificial, selfless ways. Amen.
Photo ©️ Fruitful Today
