Light of the World
By Lisa Hall, Assistant Cathedral Organist
Two weeks ago, I could not have imagined what life would be like from "social distancing." None of us have ever lived through anything like this. At times, it can be extremely hard, scary, confusing, frustrating, and just downright tiresome. Darkness and powerlessness can creep into our minds. While our daily lives have been transformed and turned upside down, our daily need for encouragement, hope, connection, and human interaction has not faded.
While scrolling through Facebook, I have often seen memes and images, expressing to "be the church" during this pandemic. You might ask, how I can do that if I am not allowed to be with others? One of the readings this past Sunday was Ephesians 5:8. It states, "Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true." As Christians, Jesus is our Light - the Light of the World. He gives us that same light to spread throughout the world, to draw others closer to the Light.
So how can we be a light to others right now? After some contemplation, here are some ideas: call or Facetime a friend instead of texting; pray - for the world, your friends, your community, your family, your church, your leaders; send a card to someone; make a meal for an elderly neighbor or friend; write a good old-fashioned letter to someone; listen to what others are saying, be kind to one another, and just let others know they are being thought of and prayed for. Isaiah 42:6-7 states, "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."
One of my favorite moments from the movie, The Lord of the Rings, is when Aragorn, one of the leaders of the battle at Helm's Deep, tells a young boy who is preparing to fight, that "there is always hope." It may be a dark time right now with lots of disappointments, hurts, and struggles. But, Jesus is our hope and our light. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Until we reach that opening, let's be His Light. Let's spread His Hope, His Truth and His Light, and may our new way of spreading it continue long after our "social distancing" is done.
