11-30-11 John 1:1-5 Unquenchable light
For a short period of my adult life I worked a third shift job. It was probably one of the hardest jobs I had. Several years before that a woman I knew from church and I were talking about working those nighttime hours. She was a unit clerk in a very busy hospital and she worked third shift. She called people who worked those dark hours moles. She also said that most people were not wired to work while most the world around them slept. I could definitely add a loud amen to what she said, and the sad truth was I knew because I was definitely not wired for overnight.
The hard part for me wasn’t staying awake through the shift. The hard part for me came when I got home and I needed to sleep during the day. I just couldn’t seem to block out the light or the noise so I could sleep. In my efforts and vain attempts I became aware of all kinds of products being sold to darken a room or cover up the sounds. Sadly, none of it worked for me and I ended up having to quit that job because my health began to suffer.
John’s words about Jesus in our scripture for today reminded me of my futile attempts to turn light into darkness: the light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. Jesus announces to the crowd that while he was still in the world that he was the light of the world. In a conversation captured in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus looked at his disciples and told them, “You are the light of the world.” Isn’t that amazing? We are the unquenchable light of Jesus in a world that is dark, lost and confused. So as you move through this busy season, be sure you have your light on.
Prayer: Jesus, shine on my path dispelling all the darkness and confusion that come my way. But also shine through me. Help me to do my part to make sure your light is shining in my corner of this world. Amen.
Pot of Manna 