Thursday, November 13, 2008

Squished like a Bug

This weekend my family went to see the movie Madagascar 2. Being that is is a movie about wild animals, it was a clever idea to use a lightening bug as a nightlight. When the mother left the room, instead of shooing the nightlight firefly away, she squished it. At which time my 6 year old yelled out, "she killed it!"
This is so like real life. We are going along shining our light, helping other, burning bright and then in one instant, squish, we go out. This can happen when something unexpected happens in your marriage, your spouse doesn't treat you the way you think they should or your children say something hurtful. It can happen at work when you find out you will be losing your job, or you have a confrontation with a co-worker. In everyday life it can happen simply by someone cutting you off in traffic, or pushing you out of the way in Target, or saying rude things. It can happen in friendships too. You think you are close to someone and have been for years and then realize you have been and always will be several down on the friend totem pole or you call and call and extend friendship to someone only to have it unreturned. Any or all of it can make you scream out, "you just killed it!"
I don't know about you, but when my light is dimming or even squished all together, it is such a lonely, dark place to be. Every little thing seems like an injustice pointed directly at you. It is hard to focus on the good when the negative is building up. Sometimes we squish our own light by being disrespectful, jelouse, envious, spiteful, etc... and not cultivating the fruits of the spirit which are joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness... (Galatians 5:19-22)
I am so thankful that when I am in these dark times, there is light. The word of the Lord. In (Psalm 119:105) we are told, "thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Yes, THE LIGHT. When you lose it, there it is!! WOOHOO. Even better (John 8:12), says, "Jesus said, I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will NEVER walk in darkness."
The Lord has provided me an excellent tool to reignite my fire, His Word. I am guilty of when I feel my worst, not going directly to the word. That is exactly what we should all be doing when our light is dimming or going out.
So my friends, don't let anyone "kill" your light. Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.