Today’s scripture: Ephesians 5:8-14a

Every Sunday night growing up, my brothers, my parents, my grandparents and I would hang out.  We would all go out to dinner (rotated between 3 or 4 local places) and then we would go back to my grandma and grandpa’s house. We hung out for a while until my parents said, “well, we should probably head out.” Then my grandma would pull out the desserts that she had made for the week (usually a pie or two) and we would have Sunday night dessert.  My grandpa loved…loved…loved….dessert so there was always dessert.  My brothers and I loved this Sunday evening ritual.  It was full of playing games with my grandparents or hanging out with each other.  We generally tried to get our homework done by that time so it really was pretty relaxing.

One of the things I remember growing up during this time was wanting to light my grandma’s candles.  In fact, there was an amount of time where Grant and I (not sure of the younger boys took part of this) would take turns as to who could light the candles.  My grandma always had a centerpiece display on her table that we knew definitely needed to be lit each week.  And we were just the grandkid to do it!  Plus, my grandpa needed someone to help light the fire too!  It was important to add the light to the scenario.

I have always had this deep fascination for the candle in the darkness or at least the candle lighting the space.  Last night, I lit a candle while I was hanging out at home.  My housemate came home and asked why…..my reply? “It just feels much warmer this way.” I love to light a candle just because it should be lighting up the space in between.  That bit of light makes a difference.

As light returns to us in longer and longer amounts during spring, I pay attention to how the light affects me.  All of a sudden I am more active longer into the day.  I want to be outside more (unless it is pouring down rain like it has been for a few days around here).  I want to move more and be more.  I want to make the light last just a bit longer.  Not that the dark isn’t good. Lots of wonderful things can happen in the dark.  There is a lot to be said about internal processing in the dark but then the light makes a difference.  The minute it enters the scene by candle, by sun, by just a spark, the world changes.

The church in Ephesus receives a letter. It has all sorts of rules in it about how to live.  The authorship is debated…some say Paul but scholars now say perhaps someone else.  But for our purposes today it doesn’t really matter…what matters is that we are called to be light in the world.  To be more active.  To spread like light.  To be excited about the light because we have already been in darkness.  We have processed and have now recognized a different way to be.  In fact, we are called to be fruit of the light…seeing what is true and being what is good.  We won’t be able to help ourselves.  We will need to light a candle nearby just to see it spread and give warmth.  We will find dark spaces and fill them with light.  Light can’t be contained…it naturally spreads out.

What will that look like?  Ok…close your eyes and imagine lighting a candle.  See it spread.  Now imagine being full of that love and light.  Can you send that to someone else?  ok…now send that to someone you don’t really like…go ahead.  I think it will help….now you are full of love and light and can use that….

Send light to someone today. Make sure it spreads.

Peace,

Courtney