“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining ~ they just shine.” Dwight L. Moody
Happy Monday!
I hope you had a restful weekend and are looking forward to this week’s events! Over the weekend, we observed the beginning of both Passover and Holy Week. I like it when these beautiful faith holidays coincide. It feels complete to me.
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, celebrates freedom from slavery and the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt. It is an eight-day celebration that began this past Saturday and will end this coming Saturday evening. For our Jewish brothers and sisters, I pray your commemoration is blessed. Those of us who appreciate our Jewish roots in faith acknowledge the kinship we share. Chag Pesach Sameach!
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for those of us who practice the Christian faith. It’s the beginning of a different week of freedom that culminates on Easter Sunday. This week, we remember the Passion of Christ and His incredible sacrificial love, which freed us from the tyranny of darkness. I hope each day of your walk this week brings insight and draws you closer to understanding how precious you are, and I hope you take time to soak in the stillness and solemnity of the season.
So, here’s something I bet you didn’t know about me ~ I love lighthouses! I appreciate them because their purpose is to shine, to illuminate. Lighthouses are a gift to fishermen and sailors of all kinds and are found throughout the world in all genres of harbors. Maybe part of the draw is that I feel most relaxed and the happiest when I’m at, in, or on the sea. Yup, put me on a beach, surf, or cruise ship, and I’m just this side of heaven!
I also love the symbolism of lighthouses. They illuminate the darkness, guiding the lost and protecting those who travel too close to danger. They are constant, silently giving direction. I think of faith this way, and most especially during this season of reflection.
Dwight L. Moody, an American evangelist in the 1800s, had some intriguing thoughts about lighthouses:
They just shine! Sometimes, the loudest sound in the room is silence. Have you ever witnessed a discussion where one person is animated with a booming voice while the other quietly takes it all in? Suddenly, the room is silent for a few minutes, and then the second person quietly says something so impactful that the discussion ends. That might have been the sort of situation Moody was considering here. We don’t have to be shouting from the rooftops to be heard. We can persuade through quiet and intentional responses. We have the potential to shine a light in the darkness that provides a path.
I think of the Passion of Easter in this way. Jesus was quiet and reflective. He said little with words but shone brightly like a lighthouse to guide us. His love is so deep that we need only follow the direction of that light to find our way to freedom in Him. It reminds me of some lyrics from the 1973 musical Godspell in the song Light of the World based on Matthew 5:16. The lyrics are:
So let your light so shine before men
Let your light so shine!
So that they might know some kindness again,
We all need help to feel fine!
It’s also interesting that some of the most critical work in counseling is done in silence. Sometimes, the silence can feel awkward. However, once those strained moments have passed and people are encouraged to sit with their thoughts, profound reflection occurs, barriers are broken, insights are gained, and a new kind of freedom from past wounds is realized. It’s an incredibly powerful tool that therapists use to gently encourage their clients to recognize their ability to heal. The therapist doesn’t blast them like a cannon but quietly shines a light.
This week, as the season of Lent culminates and we have time to reflect, let’s look for ways to shine a light in the darkness of our troubling thoughts. Let’s reflect on the solemnity of the events of Passover and the Passion and recognize the transcending truths that guide and provide peace. And let’s seek ways to translate what we’re learning about ourselves into a light source for others!
Praying the quiet reflections of Holy Week bring you to the
Hallelujahs of Easter!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
