Fireflies

“Let there be light!” are the first words that God utters. Curiously, In Genesis 1, it wasn’t until the fourth day that God created the sun, moon, and stars. So, what light was created in the beginning? It was the light that lives in you... in all of us. This light transcends time and space. It is forever illuminated when we love others. Through love, we light-up the world. We are like fireflies in the prairie at dusk. When we do something kind, give to someone in need, or accompany someone in distress, we are revealing sparks of light in a darkened world.  

If you have never seen the bio-luminescence of many fireflies, particularly reflecting off a body of water, it is truly surreal. The bellowing bullfrogs and the chirping crickets make the environment well-suited for a transcendent experience. This light is not just found in nature though, it’s also found in people. I wonder, what would it take to look upon humanity the same way that we look upon a field of fireflies? To see the light and the beauty it creates within people, that requires a deeply-seated spirituality.   

We may ask, can this little light of mine really make a difference? The answer is, yes! Because your light is a part of a larger mosaic of fireflies. Your individual light makes you a part of something bigger and brighter than you. One lighted bug is still neat, but when placed in a scene with thousands of fireflies…that’s stunning! My challenge for you is to know your beauty, while at the same time, celebrate the beauty of the multitudes. 

Paul calls us “children of light” and explains that we “share in the inheritance of God’s holy people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:12). Being light in the world is a collective effort. Your light is the work of the body of Christ. Your light is bright, but OUR light is far brighter. To put it another way, without your light, we’re not as bright. There are forces that seek to snuff-out your light… don’t listen.  People will tell you that your uniqueness is a nuisance… this is nonsense! People will tell you that what makes you special only causes trouble… stand firm. What makes you shine is exactly what God created from the beginning. You are what makes this world bright. 

Together, we are a Church that fills people with hope and purpose. Here, we make sure people feel they belong. The more fireflies that gather, the more beautiful and brighter the light will be. God gave us our little light, so let it shine. God gave this little light to every person, so we let everyone shine. See, we are not boldly inclusive for the sake of the person we’re including. We are boldly inclusive because we know that more fireflies means that we are creating something more beautiful.  Let it shine. Let it shine. For God’s sake, let it shine!

With gazing amazement,

Pastor Lucas

Photo by Guilherme Stecanella