Recently, I was out on a terrace at night. I was looking at all the lights from homes that were a few miles away. It made me think of the verse Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Some of the lights were miles away and yet they were still visible through the darkness.
I remember hearing a story about WWII where people could not even have a candle light in their homes during an air raid. Even with curtains and dark drapes, the light of a candle would be enough for the planes to see a target for their bombs. This story has stayed with me. It’s something that I think about occasionally. The fact that even the smallest light can have an impact in the darkness.
In a spiritual sense, there is darkness all around us. Whether in the USA or here in Spain, there are people who are blind to the truth. There are people who don’t know anything about God at all. Then there are people who only go to church because of tradition or culture. Growing up in the USA, I am accustomed to the traditions in the states. They are part of who we are and I’m sure I don’t even realize them all.
Because I didn’t grow up here in Spain, it is interesting to see some of the traditions they have. It is a Catholic country, but mostly only in culture and tradition. It is where Ferdinand and Isabella ruled and led the inquisition. The Catholic roots run deep in this culture. I was able to see a couple of huge Easter processions where they carry giant icons on platforms. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve seen it. They have clubs where they raise money to take care of the icons. It’s not bad; it’s just different. However, it is easy to see how sometimes tradition can take the place of a relationship with Jesus.
People may or may not believe that there is a God. Even if they do, it doesn’t mean that they know Him. In that context, I wonder about my life. Am I being a light? I don’t have to be the brightest light ever. I don’t have to be famous or someone important. There are days where it seems like nothing will ever change, yet remembering that even the smallest of lights can impact the darkness brings a sense of hope. I can’t change the darkness, but Jesus can. If I keep loving and serving Jesus, He can use the light in my life, that sometimes feels so small, for His glory.