Not a Lightbulb?

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”   John 8:12

In my condo, I need to replace all the light bulbs.  Several are burned out and others are being replaced with more energy efficient LED bulbs.  This is a task I can accomplish on my own.  Just take out the old, buy new ones, and put in the new.  I will clean each fixture but not change it.  I will just replace a bulb with not much thought and then move on to the next one.  The light bulb produces light when I flip the switch, but it does nothing without the switch being turned on.  I know that electricity is connected to the switch which then produces the light.  That is all I need to know to have light in a room.

When we see light, we look for the source.  I have a night light outside the condo.  I had to search in the daylight to find the source of the light.  The moon and stars provide light on clear nights through my window.  Light comes from a variety of sources.  The purpose of light is to shine in the darkness and be a guide on our path.

In the darkness of grief, we stumble on the path.  The life of our loved one which gave light to our life path is no longer beside us shining their light of love.  We do not want to live in this darkness and desire that light back into our lives.  This light is not a lightbulb.  Nobody can replace that love.  You cannot just take out the old and put in the new like you do a lightbulb.

This past week, a door closed on a relationship – it was dissolved.  We had an adventure, but it was not what we desired.  We had tried to be a light bulb in each other’s life.  That is, we were a replacement not a new light into a new chapter of life.  It was not intentional, but it was the result.  In a relationship, light is more than a fixture or bulb.  It is not something to be turned on and off.  Light brings life and hope into a relationship and radiates into every aspect of each person.   Light shines in the darkness and enhances the pathway.

Darkness seems more intense in our grief.  The evenings are the most difficult when the darkness is stark and reminds us that we are all alone.  We turn on lamps and the light bulb creates a brighter room, but the darkness remains in our heart.  The light we seek is more about love than about illumination.  The light of love flickers in our hearts from the memories of what used to be.  There was purpose and meaning in those memories and our lives were enhanced with the light of our loved one.  We could accept darkness because we were not alone.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”  Jesus is our source even in the darkness of life.  Jesus promises that His light of love and peace and comfort will always be present.  Nothing extinguishes Jesus’ light.  Jesus is my power source.  I desire to shine bright wherever God calls me not just confined to one space or person.

A lightbulb has one purpose only and one area to do its job.  We never expect a lightbulb to give meaning and hope to our lives.  It is just there when we need to turn on the lamp.  The light bulb never deviates from its purpose.  In a relationship, when you are a light bulb, you are viewed as having one purpose – to fit into the role the other person expects you to fulfill.  You need to be a certain wattage, fit into a box, and be the right replacement for the fixture.  You cannot shine and enhance life in your own unique way.

I believe relationships are designed to reflect the light of Jesus.  Light enhances and challenges another to grow into all God created them to be.  Light shines in the darkness of our souls to remind us even in sadness and loss, we are not alone.  The light may be dim or just a tiny flicker, but the light of Jesus never goes out.

I never want to be a light bulb.  You cannot replace someone for another person.  If a new relationship develops, it needs to light a new path and enhance who you are not box you up.  I do not live in a box nor should you.  I desire to be a light – the light of Jesus to shine in the darkness of other people’s lives.  I want to enhance life and give hope.

Even in grief light shines.  We have moments that enhance our darkness.  A smile from a child.  A hug from a friend.  A sign from God in a cardinal.  A verse of scripture that speaks to our heart.  These are all lights.  Lights we receive and lights we can give to others.   Look on your path.  See the light of Jesus in others.  Be a light to others in the moments.  In other moments allow God’s light to shine through others or within your heart.  Light brings hope and healing and moments.  Receive the light in the moments.