I have been having trouble recovering from the short trip that I took to Seattle last weekend. I decided this evening that I would "plagiarize" myself. This is a post from when I lived and worked on a farm in the mountains of Bulgaria. That night upon my return from the city back to the town where the farm was located, I departed the train at either the town before, or the town after my designated stop.
So here is the story.
The light
So last Thursday night I had quite the adventure in finding my way back to the CROP farm. It kind of starts out like this. I departed a train in what I thought was the village of Tserovo. Upon viewing my surroundings I was surprised to see that I was in the wrong. What does one do in a moment like this? Try to just relax and look at the map. Oh yeah, I was without map, so forget that idea. Instead I decided to walk the train tracks to the next town.
Unfortunately I strolled down the wrong side of the tracks. After a two mile walk if the tracks, I discovered the town of Bov. I found a local fellow who appeared to have some car troubles. After saying good evening (with my very limited Bulgarian vocab) to him, I asked where Tserovo was located. Turns out that I was only a three mile walk to the village where I have been staying at the farm. After dodging cars on a narrow two lane road, I arrived in the vicinity around 10 pm.
The next part of the adventure was getting up to the mountain outside of the main village. I was running low on water, as well as light (which I was using on my IPod).
I was very appreciative of the village homes lighting my way to the trail (that leads to the farm). I definitely was not ready to hit the panic button though. Coming down the mountain in sunlight was cake. Going up in darkness could not have been too bad. Then you starting to consider your adventure getting to that point. According to my legs and calculations, I had walked about eight miles and possibly more throughout my whole evening.
The more I wanted to just stop and sleep in the forest, the more I began to look toward the stars. I started to pray to God to be my guiding light. I knew that the eventually I would be in an open field. My iPod even started to flash low battery too. This meant that giving up could be an option, or I could just look up to the stars and be led.
I took a moment to think things over, and suddenly a rush of energy hit me. I felt as if I was gliding through the forest into the open field. Sure enough it was just myself in that field joined by the starlight.
It was there that your path was illuminated by the stars above
After entering someone else's land, I found the power lines that led me to CROP farm.
The next day as I was sawing away, I reflected on this adventure. God lighting my way led me to recall a sermon I heard earlier this year based on Matthew 5:14 (though I feel 14-16 is more appropriate here).
It states 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
How is it that we are lights for those around us?
Based on my life in the past few years, I often credit young children as being a light for me. My little Korean babies (students), were very often a big light in my workweek. They were a big reason that I rarely felt the stresses of living abroad.
One of the best examples I know was a little girl I met in Vietnam this summer. Her family did not seem to have much. Her mom would scavenge through garbage bins looking for plastic bottles to collect. This little girl came from so little, yet her smile seemed to be a message to me from above. She enjoyed using my phone a few times, but not for the games. There was something about looking at pictures that just lit up that face of hers.
My little nephew Ethan is the same way. So full of life, yet always being a strong light for my sister. Perhaps God has made them lights for each other. Watching him bounce around on the trampoline lights up my evenings when I'm able to visit.
Who has been a light for you?
Does our light always shine for others? Or does it flicker on and off?
Speaking with an honest heart, I know I have had a deceptive light at certain times in life. Selfishness is to credit for the ways that I have hurt people in the past. I hope these days the light burns and burns like a wildfire, instead of one with a self-controlled on/off switch.
How does your light shine?
How is it that we affect those around us when our light flickers?
This question leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. I say this, because I understand the hurt and pain that I have caused to some. Instead of guilt tripping myself, I pray that those affected have the light of forgiveness in them. This enables me to forgive myself in the long run.
What must we do to insure that our light is always shining for others?
That should be an easy question to answer right. Put away our selfish pride and live as if tomorrow were our last day. Or pray to the good Lord for strength, and discipline to help us be a guiding light for others in our world.
Who are some good examples of light in our big world?
There should be multiple answers to this one. I think of a man that I call Uncle Tom, as well as most children that I've been around in my life as well. Animals can have that same effect on us as well. I am sure my Grandpa and his cats light each others' lives up on a daily basis.
Who is a well-known figure in the world whose light has deceived us?
My best answer to this one is a man named Lance Armstrong. There are definitely some other answers when we look at our society today. I feel that the man was admired by many for his courageous fight through cancer, and then his amazing wins in the Tour De France.
Every person on this earth needs some form of light. Some need a light of encouragement. Some need the light of a hug. Some just need the light of a smile. Others may need much bigger lights in this world so they don't have to face their hardships in life alone. For the believers out there, God needs each and everyone to be a light.
So I leave you with a small prayer to help you through this day. I will possible have one more post here tonight, and then I will be away for five more days.
Lord of light, help us to be the light the others around us need. We may not know the reasons you call us to be light, but Lord we trust in you, and you entrust you spirit within us to do your work. We thank you for the light you provide us. The light of hope that helps to see a new day. The light of love that others give to us. The light of sunshine that on the face of young children. Lord, we thank you for all such light in our lives, and in the lives of our loved ones. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment