Look Up

With the news of 2 well-known people and 1 local, teenage girl having taken their own life this past week I’ve found myself drawn to Matthew 5:15-16 MSG,

“If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-SHINE! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

When I was a teenager, I remember life getting very difficult for a period of time and thinking about suicide. I remember thinking about how I would do it..what it would look like; feel like. Thankfully, God had his hand on me, and I didn’t put my thoughts into action.

Each of these losses are a reminder to me that as Christians, we are called to be ‘light’ to others lost in their darkness. We are called to be open and honest about our own struggles & difficulties so that others will see they are not alone. We are called to LOOK UP from our own lives and busyness and cellphones and see where we can help and serve the people we encounter throughout our average day. How many needs go unmet and hurts go unhealed because we are too ‘busy’ with our own lives to even make eye contact with others around us? To them..the ‘unseen’ the hurt, the lost, the broken, the vulnerable we are called to be light. We are called to come alongside them and sit with them in their brokenness and love them. We are called to hold them and hug them and care for them to show them hope for their future. We are called to remind them that God, the Creator of the Universe, SPECIFICALLY knit them together-exactly like they are-in THIS moment and in THIS place because He loves them and has a plan for their life. That BEFORE they even took their first breath, that HE chose them and loves them. That to Him THEY ARE SEEN and LOVED and SPECIAL and HEARD. That He will wipe away EVERY tear and hold them close to Himself. To these and to ALL we meet, we are called to be LIGHT.

With 3 lives lost this week, I wonder just how good I’m doing at being a light to others.

June 24-As I mentioned a few days ago, I’d love for you to join me in doing random acts of kindness between now and June 24 (honestly, you could do this indefinitely). There are NO parameters as to what should be done; for whom or how or how much. My personal goal is 18 to honor our 18 years of marriage. But more than anything, I want to encourage you over the next few weeks to simply LOOK UP and SEE those you encounter throughout your day and be LIGHT to them. SEE all of the faces that may feel that they are unseen and love on them in a real and tangible way.