A small light flitted in front of my face, switching off a second after I noticed it.
I smiled a moment later as I glimpsed another. Then another.
Those tiny bright lights turned off and on with predictable regularity, if you knew where to look.
As I watched the fireflies, (a favorite summer bug here in the Midwest) I was struck by how much easier they are to spot as dusk deepens into darkness.
At dusk, they were noticeable only when I concentrated on sighting them. As darkness descended and night blotted out all traces of natural light, those fireflies prominently displayed flashes of light, diffusing the darkness.
Matthew 5:16 tells us, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We often think about where we might shine our light. Not that your light isn’t valuable at church or a place of identifiable ministry teeming with other Christians. However, is your beacon adding light to an already illuminated space?
We need people of faith equipped to venture into the darkness. It is often here the small light shines brightest. Here where that small, singular difference is most noticed, most appreciated. Just like the firefly is noticed more in the dark than at dusk.
When considering how to spend your ministry moments, weigh the darker options as well. You just may be called to the dark so your light can shine ever-so brightly!