Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. . . Psalm 13:3
Do you remember that song “You Light Up My Life”? Written by Debbie Boone, Pat Boone’s daughter, it spoke of God giving her hope and purpose.
The next time you are in a crowd of people, maybe at an airport, or in a mall, or waiting in line to be seated at a popular restaurant, or in line at the DMV, maybe even in Church, watch their expressions. So many are walking dead. There is no light in their eyes. No hope. They shuffle along, slouched by the weight of the world on their shoulders. Moving through time, getting by, going about their day. Their faces reveal a darkness, a boredom or a numbness so as to not be overwhelmed by all the pressures they must deal with day to day. They eat poorly, sleep fitfully and live stressfully.
Then they hear laughter and see someone walking, head up, loving life, joy shining in their eyes. How out of place, how odd. They shrug, or roll their eyes and sink back into their smileless dulldrum. A life without purpose, a life without joy, a life without Christ. The sleep of death.
Christ said He is the Light and He brings it to a darkened world. Like a skipping and giggling child lights up a grandmother’s eyes, we light up God’s. His love for us is so immense, so forgiving, so energizing, when we feel it we can’t help but light up as well in response. His love gives us hope. We see His purpose. And we see ours.
If your world seems a little dark today, go to the Light. Let Him fill you again with warmth, love, hope and purpose. Then, go share it with someone else, less it dims so much, you no longer notice it and fall back into a humdrum walking sleep of the dead.
“In the same way, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16
