This little light of mine…

This charming light …

is one of about…oh…I can’t even estimate

but roughly a LOT ….

of lamps, lights and fixtures that are scattered throughout the store where I am blessed to work.

At the start of the day, I go around turning them on as quickly as I can because…you know…always cutting it close on time is my M.O.

But this little lamp, as cute and innocent as it looks, has issues.

The shade has to be just right

and the bulb has to be just so

and the switch has to be turned at just the right angle.

And even then…it has been known to turn itself off after I walk away.

If I didn’t know better….

I would say this lamp has a mind of its own, and a bit of a rebellious streak to boot.

Kind of like…

My memory verse for the last half of May is Philippians 2:14-16:

In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you.

You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn.

Shine out among them like beacon lights, holding out to them the Word of Life.   TLB

Oh I do so want to be a light.

But I get tripped up on the very thing that would set me in a place to shine…

and it is that bit about separating myself from grumbling, complaining, arguing.

And the irony of it all is…

I’m usually doing all of those things

grumbling

complaining

arguing

ABOUT the darkness that I am longing to shine a light into.

It’s like:

I want to separate myself from the darkness so that I can shine.

But, when I look closely at the passage, it says…

Separate yourself from complaining and arguing…

Live a clean, innocent life as a child of God…

IN a dark world full of darkened people…

SO THAT…

You WILL shine…

like a beacon…

and that kind of puts a different light on things.

It is in the midst of the darkness..

WHEN I refuse to grumble and argue..

AND choose to live a godly life…

that this finicky, touchy, prone to flicker light shines the brightest

<3