“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men [and women] light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men [and women], that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (I added the bracketed words.)
These verses 14 through 16 from chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew are among those writings in the Bible that are most meaningful to me. They are Matthew’s record of some of Jesus’ many teachings. Although my family attended Sunday church services regularly when I was a child and I heard many Bible readings and many sermons based on those readings, it wasn’t until I was in my 30s that they began to have personal meaning for me.
At first glance, it might seem that people being told they are the light of the world could cause them to have too high of an opinion of themselves. But the words are not directed to one person or just certain people. They are directed to all of us. Every one of us has something to offer, talents to share, ways of helping others, gifts to give.
I was shy as a child and I had a tendency to walk behind others, such as when my family was walking somewhere or for school activities. I was shy about being in front, and I wonder if, at an unconscious level, I thought I wasn’t good enough to be in the front. Although I’m no longer as shy and I had enough self-confidence to do well in school and in the jobs I’ve had, some of that “don’t be first” tendency is still a part of me. So when I was prompted by my dreams and by synchronicities to start writing a blog, I found it very difficult to begin. There was that part of me that didn’t believe I had anything to share, that didn’t believe I could write in a way that “let my light shine.”
Because I believe our dreams are from the Creator, and therefore it is essential for all of us to try to follow dream direction, I did begin writing this blog. Writing my blog is vital to my personal growth. It is also a way for me to try to help those who read it to have hope and to grow as individuals. For every one of us has ways to shine by doing good works using the talents and blessings we have been given.