"'You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a [lantern] and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'"
Matthew 5:14-16
Light and dark are two of the most powerful metaphors in our world. Light represents the known, the safe, the comforting. Light allows us to see the world around us, it reveals the truth, and it brings hope. Darkness, on the other hand, represents the unknown, potential dangers that we cannot see. It obscures our choices, makes us fearful of moving forward, and brings despair.
For me there is a big difference between a walk in the dark in unfamiliar territory...and a walk in the dark in unfamiliar territory with a lantern. Even though the circle of light might be limited, it is still a circle of light. I can see the path in front of me, I can see what's right beside me. I have hope that I will reach my destination unharmed.
That is what I want my ministry to be. I want to give a "lantern of hope" to each person that I serve. I want to enable them to see their own path and to move forward without fear. I want them to know the truth of God's love and feel hope.
"Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,
Like a little [lantern] burning in the night.
In this world of darkness, Jesus bids us shine;
You in your small corner and I in mine."
Count-downT-2! 48 hours from now I will be in the air on my way to Romania. Two of my four suitcases are packed full of ministry supplies and are ready to go. The other two are standing hopefully in my bedroom, surrounded by the flotsam and jetsam that washes up from all parts of the house as I wander about deciding what to take. I have three more things to do:- continue to figure out what I might be doing, gather my thoughts and ideas together on my computer and then print it all out. An email from Liviu yesterday confirmed my tentative in-country itinerary and added a speaking engagement with some youth who can communicate in English and a visit to a different church. I'm apparently on a need-to-know basis and I don't need to know any further details until I arrive. :) From past experience in Romania, it's quite possible that I will be picked up on Sunday, September 21 by a pastor whom I will meet in the car and taken to another village to attend church there. I really need to practice my Romanian on the plane...
- finish cleaning my house so that my colleague, Andrea, won't be scared when she comes to live in my suite while I'm gone. She's currently homeless and my landlord (who is 89) likes to have someone around, so it's a great arrangement. Fortunately, I've only been living here for a month and a half so I haven't had ample opportunity yet to really mess the place up.
- finish packing. And check off all my lists.
No problem! I think I'll go to bed now.
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