Let it shine!

Driving on a winter’s night in Scotland can be awesome. I avoid that over-used word but sometimes it is warranted. Saturday night was clear and cold. Orion could be easily identified amongst the other constellations, and a half moon shone down on the twinkling frostiness below. 

Arriving home at the ‘hillock, the only sounds to be heard were the occasional calls of owls in the woods beyond the fields. No light pollution nearby, the stars stretched from one horizon to the other.

Night seems to be falling on our world, but rather than focus on the darkness, I want to focus on the light. ‘In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ 

Despite the pollution oozing everywhere, the light can still be seen. I see it in my friends and family and strangers. I saw it in church yesterday, breaking in through the worship, through the preaching, through the communion. Light in the darkness.

Let there be light, God commanded in the beginning. In the words of the children’s song, ‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.’ Like the moon: reflecting the light of the sun. May we all reflect the light of the Son.

Let it shine.

Gratitude is the Attitude that ...

Gratitude is the attitude that breaks the chains of an ego-centric world view. Thankfulness sets us free from the cramp of self-absorption, where we think that life revolves around ‘me’. It liberates us to celebrate that actually life revolves around the Son. 

We have so many blessings every day that don’t depend on any self-effort. I’ve just enjoyed the gift of yet another spectacular sunset. It came free of charge, independent of my own efforts or merit. 

I’ve also stood at the door of the supermarket asking for shoppers to fill trolleys with food for those in crisis who have empty cupboards. I watched a lady wheel her trolley back to us and proceed to unload everything except a bunch of flowers into the trolley for the hungry. I had the privilege of seeing a man hand over a bag with eight Christmas puddings. I had the joy of watching a child put in a tin of tomatoes.

Gratitude is the attitude that enables us to be generous. To share lavishly. To shun greed in favour of sharing what we have with those who have less, or nothing at all.

So, we celebrated Thanksgiving in our family last Saturday, a few days ahead of the official American celebration, in order to include Mom and Mhairi before they headed back to California. 

Our tradition for the last several years has been to cut a bare twig and bring it inside, ‘plant’ it in a block of wood and then each of us write on a leaf what we are thankful for this year. 

I’ve not yet read any of them, but they are all there, and God knows the outpouring of our hearts.

It’s great to have a special day where the focus is on giving thanks. It’s even better to spend a few minutes every day, reflecting on the many unearned blessings and gifts which have littered our lives in the last few hours.

Happy Thanksgiving, however you celebrate(d) it.