A Sliver in the Darkness
Standing outside this morning in the predawn chill, dressed in
my robe, my winter coat, and my mukluk slippers, waiting for my dog to do her
business, I looked up for a moment to see the moon. It is one of those slivery
crescent moons right now, but with a planet or star shining just above to the
upper left. It sort of looked like the Proctor and Gamble logo. That wasn't what
got me thinking though.
The moon, if you didn't know, produces no light of its own. The moon's glow is
caused by reflecting the light of the sun. No matter what phase of the moon it
is or where it is placed in the sky, its only light is a reflection of the sun's
light. Even though we can't see the sun, we know it is still there because we
see its light reflected. As I looked at the tiny sliver, it made me think of the
light we are supposed to reflect.
I began to imagine that I was the moon, called to reflect the glorious light of
the Son. Am I just showing a sliver, little glimpses of light but mostly in the
dark? Do I shine like a harvest moon, reflecting the full glory of all that is
possible in the Son? Does how much light I shine change with different phases in
my life?
I thought of places in the real world where the sun doesn't shine for six months
out of the year, and the only light seen is the light of the moon. They know the
sun is still there, even though they can't see it, because of the moon. There
are people in our lives living in spiritual darkness. They can't see the Son,
but they can see His glory and beauty reflected through our lives, if we let
them. We can give a glimpse of what is really out there to someone who otherwise
wouldn't know.
I bet the moon doesn't hang there in the sky, being all proud of its bright
shining light, either. If the moon could think, it would probably be so grateful
for the sun, keeping it from living in eternal darkness. As I begin to shine for
God, and things along my path are lit up, I sometimes get confused. I start to
think that I am responsible for the light and goodness working in my life. I'm
sure the moon doesn't have an ego problem.
My prayer today is multi-faceted. Lord, please help me to remember to shine for
You, to reflect Your light into the darkness that fills this world. Use me,
Lord, to point the way to the True Source of Light, to be a beacon of hope in
the night. And Lord, keep me humble. (Always a brave prayer, I know.) Help me to
keep You at the forefront of my life, remember that it is only Your Light that I
reflect, Your Spirit in me that is seen, that on my own I am nothing. It is Your
grace in my life that gives me light for this journey.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit." (2Corinthians3:18)
Debbie Giese