As Inescapable As Light.

One tiny glimpse of light expels all darkness in a room. That is my desire. I want to shine so that everyone can see the Light. I do not want them to see me, but I want them to see Christ in me.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again." --2 Corinthians 5:14-15

This makes me think of the Christmas Eve candlelight service at church. Every year, we recieve a candle when we walk in...we go through the entire service anticipating the traditional ending: singing Silent Night with the house lights off, a few people lighting their candles from the center candle on the Advent wreath, and then passing off the light to everyone in the room by lighting the candles at the end of each row. Christ, the Light of the World, is obviously the center candle on the Advent wreath. The first few people to light their candles from the first candle represent the leaders of the early church. They begin to spread the light all over the room (world) to people who begin to spread it, who begin to spread it. Soon enough, the entire room is flooded with light...almost as bright as if the house lights were on again. That is what we are called to do. Spread our light...well, Christ's light.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." --John 1:1-5

Another version says: "the darkness will never extinguish it." Mmm. We need to live this way. Always. This Light is the Source of our faith and the only thing we should put our faith in. Faith.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." --Hebrews 11:1

I want to have faith so strong that it feels like I am watching my life from the outside. I want God to do things so big through me that people will look at me and know that I had absolutely nothing to do with it...other than believing that my God is all-powerful. When people ask me what my plans are after school, I can honestly say "I have no idea. And I am completely fine with that. When God wants to tell me, He will." And I think that that faith demonstrates the hope that I have in my Only Hope. He is above all and in all and through all (Ephesians 4:6). So He may do anything and everything He wants to through me.

Have faith. Shine.