Light

Light
Illumination derived from a particular source.

Open your eyes.
We have been born into darkness but the light is nearby, if only we'd open our eyes.
My parents recently returned from Israel. They went to a holocaust museum honoring the deaths of children at Auschwitz. They were in a room with a single candle, but because of the set up and reflections my mom felt as though she was in a room with millions of candles. With our eyes open, we not only see the one flicker of light, but it will begin to reflect and shine beyond the simple glows.

Open your eyes.
Our lives will be validated in the light of day.
How often do we stumble, bump into the walls and trip over mysterious objects... in the dark? Compare those clumsy moments to how often it happens in the light? Darkness leads to confusion and fear. Too often we are busy stumbling around in the dark, but if we'd only open our eyes we would see the path laid out before us.

Open your eyes.
Even when we can't find it, He will always lead us to the light.
In a world filled with despair, we are often the only light that seems to be shining. We may be that one candle and the bit of glow to help light the path of another. Make sure that the light within you radiates brightly, not only for yourself, but for this world to see.

"What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by."
- John 1:4

Hands

Hands
The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb.

How often do you look at your hands? I admit that I look at mine often, mostly because they are constantly commented on... alien-like, the crooked pinkies, piano fingers, etc... I must say that I also look at other peoples' hands. I just like them. Hands have a lot of character, they reveal things about a person - a french manicure, callus tipped fingers, scrapes and scars... lots of stories upon our hands. Beyond the actual hand, what is typically found in your hands? I carry my mittens around all the time. I do wear them, but I find that I'm mostly holding them.

So, another question, another step further; what do you carry in your spiritual hands? Do you carry gifts to be given, have you clutched onto things that you should be letting go of? Often times I don't think we realize the greatness we have in our own hands. The greatness to do good, the greatness of power, the greatness of our wounds. Exodus 4:2 says "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'What is in your hand?' 'A staff,' he replied. God said, 'Throw it on the ground.'" Sometimes the most important things in life are in our own hands. We are given the choice to use what we have, cling to what is good, grasp onto things that are not our own, lift, push, take and bless.

Take a moment to look at your hands. Think of the stories your hands have been a part of. Question what is in your hands, maybe the things you should let go of, the things you should pick up and those things that should be put to use.

"I won't be made useless, I won't be idle with despair, I will gather myself around my faith, For light does the darkness most fear. My hands are small, I know, But they're not yours, they are my own."
- Jewel