You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine

 

When we were in Rhode Island during Hurricane Sandy, I had my breakfast in the Hotel restaurant. As I was leaving I asked my waitress if I could ask her a question. She said yes and she had a question for me too. I wanted to know if they had oatmeal on the menu. She wanted to know if she should have knee surgery at the end of the week. She was nervous about it and assumed from the way I walked that I had just had it done. What an opportunity to spread a little faith! But I chickened out.

I asked her if she was religious. She said well she was spiritual. I said it would be good if she had a prayer circle to help her through the surgery. She said she once shook the hand of the Dali Lama, isn’t that just as good?  “Well,” I said “It wouldn’t hurt.’

I’ve been listening to some records that were favorites of mine in the early 70’s.

One of the songs is “You Can’t be a Beacon If Your Light Don’t Shine” by Donna Fargo

“You can’t be a beacon if your light don’t shine

There’s a little light in all of us by God’s design,

But you can’t be a beacon if your light don’t shine.

How can you ask for the truth
When you do not truthful live
How can you ask forgiveness
When you do not forgive
I don’t mean to bring you down or speak to you unkind
But you can’t be a beacon if your light don’t shine”

Have there been times when you have reacted to someone’s actions in a less than pleasant manner? Do you honk angrily at the slow driver, or when someone cuts you off? Do you look away and ignore someone who may need your help? Do you walk away from those in shabby dirty clothes?

I am reminded of Matt: 25, 34-40

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

35.For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me,

 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee: or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee?

 39 Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 and the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

This December take the opportunity of the season to let your light so shine. Be a beacon to your fellow men.