Musing Monday with Special Guest, Ruth Logan Herne
“Let there be light…” Genesis 1:3
“It is better to light one candle, than to curse the
darkness.” Chinese proverb
“This little light of mine… I’m gonna let it shine!” Gospel
music, Harry Dixon Loes, composer
We are surrounded by phrases of light, phrases that evoke
the image of light breaking darkness.
Beautiful imagery like this is no accident.
Light brings hope. Light brings morning. Light represents
new chances, new days, new beginnings! Light travels! One has only to peer up
at the night sky to see how amazingly complex the universe is in its very
simplicity of rock-strew wonder… because we see light that shined a long time
ago…
And it comes to us today.
There can be peace in darkness. Rest, slumber, ease. But
light instigates us to get up, put on new clothes, and make the new day count!
Light inspires us. It calls to us, it pulls and tugs us. And
yet, we take it for granted because there’s always been light. It’s almost
mundane. It’s expected.
Today in this world, in this time, there are many who see
light as a threat. Who see US as a threat. They don’t see Christ’s light. Maybe
they never will.
But we can make His light, his sacrifice shine brighter. We
can make ourselves shine brighter! We can be better people, kinder, gentler and
more sacrificial! Christ told his people “Ye are the light of the world. A
city, set on a hill, cannot be hidden.”
Let’s be that city on a hill!
There is strength in sacrifice. There is grace in
sacrificial love. With every sacrifice we make we build character within
ourselves, and strengthen our moral aptitude.
Being a light is good. Being a light is wholesome. Being a
light unto others, forgiving trespasses, is simply marvelous.
“God, in your amazing,
wondrous way, you created light and your people, and sent your son to be light
among us. You sent him to show us the way through his most righteous sacrifice.
Help us be sacrificial to others. Help us to be kind, to smile, to hug, to
embrace. Help us to reach for the light in times of darkness. To walk humbly
with our God. And to do this all like the contrite tax collector in Luke’s
gospel, begging quiet forgiveness in an obscure corner. True light makes no noise, but sometimes,
somehow, creates a hum of satisfaction. Let us inspire that hum of satisfaction
in others, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Born into poverty,
multi-published, best-selling author Ruth Logan Herne has a heart for the
downtrodden and weary… She longs to make them happy and ease their burden. With
nearly thirty titles in print and eight more contracted, she’s living her
childhood dream… a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a published author
touching hearts and souls with God’s word. She loves to hear from folks through
her website http://ruthloganherne.com,
e-mail at loganherne@gmail.com or
through facebook as, well… you guessed it! Ruth Logan Herne!
To celebrate the blog’s birthday, Ruthy’s offering two
giveaways! She’s donated a Kindle copy of “With This Spark” a collection of
historical romance novellas and either an e-copy or a paperback copy of her
latest 4 ½ Star-rated book “Healing the Lawman’s Heart”. Leave a comment for Ruthy to get your name in the drawing!
Such a lovely post thank you.
ReplyDeleteI now have the song “This little light of mine… I’m gonna let it shine!” in my head. Not a bad thing.
Mary, with all these little kids I sing that all the time. It's an earwig for sure!!! (did I use that term right?????)
DeleteHaha, it is what we call a "sticky song". :)
DeleteYour prayer did not go unheeded as I felt the love in your words very personally. Thank you so much for sharing this message today.
ReplyDeleteTerrill, what a beautiful comment! And they were meant just that sincerely... With hugs and cookies.
DeleteOddly, I went to Julie Lessman's blog yesterday sometime after I read your post here, and there you were with more beautiful (and fun) words of encouragement. I promise, I'm not stalking. It's a sense that we have. Right? I sense, like many others I'm sure, that you try earnestly to live the words you use to encourage. I, especially believe that after reading the remaining posts here. Thank you, again. I truly loved the virtual cookies!! :)
DeleteMaybe, not oddly (poor choice of words,) but ironically. :)
DeleteI'm going to be singing this all day long now that it is in my head.
ReplyDeletePerfect! Our best reminder to be a light!!! I need this when I get snarky and judgmental and think I know too much... Then I need that sweet reminder of that city on a hill. It helps me to be a jerk less often!!!
DeleteYes, Ruthy, I know what you mean. I have to admit that I get that snark attitude sometimes too, and this is a great reminder.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing with us today, Ruthy. A great reminder for all of us.
ReplyDeleteCrystal, so nice to see you!!!!! And you're welcome, it's crazy fun sharing this birthday celebration!
DeleteI remember my Sunday School class singing This Little Light for our church, along with the hand movements. Another song was Deep and Wide, Jacob's Ladder, I'm a Little Teapot--no that was in school. Important thing is, I learned how important it was to let your light shine.
ReplyDeleteElaine, yes, yes, yes! And sometimes life makes it hard to shine... the words of the "Gloria" at Mass aren't easy when life's taken a beloved person, or someone has betrayed our trust, or our hopes and dreams seem threatened. At those times, when we think so much is lost, it's just plain hard to shine at all... and then I think of the stars, and the moons, ever shining. Of the people I pass all the time, with their own stories, their own problems, their own trials. And I realize that my smile might make that trial less lonely... and that they don't ever have to know how hard it was too smile! They just need to see it and feel God's love.
DeleteThis also makes me think of that old song about The Lighthouse. The light shines through the storm and guides us safely when we would have perished.
DeleteThank you for your beautiful words--it is apparent that you have a beautiful soul!. I sing This Little Light of Mine to my 17 month old granddaughter and I want her to know that all of us have our own special light and we should never try to hide it or to share it.
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950 At gmail Dot com
Aw, Connie, my soul is just like everyone's. We start out flawless and then OOPs! So human! But that humanness is of God and I never argue with him, so we take that frail side that messes up and we work with it. Thank you so much for stopping over here, I brought cake, Connie... birthday cake. :) Have some!!!
DeleteThank you for your beautiful words--it is apparent that you have a beautiful soul!. I sing This Little Light of Mine to my 17 month old granddaughter and I want her to know that all of us have our own special light and we should never try to hide it and we should never fail to share it.
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950 At gmail Dot com
Aww, how sweet, Connie. I like that.
DeleteOur church still sings This Little Light of Mine as a congregational song. It's good for young and old alike!
ReplyDeleteYayuh! It's foot tappin', baby rockin' music and it reminds us of Christ's directive in such a fun and simple way!
DeleteI have both of these books & trying to find time to get to them! They sound sooo good!
ReplyDeleteI've heard a song about The Lighthouse that I like :) My kids always liked This Little Light of Mine too...