A Bright Light

Before supper we tried to identify the color of the cloth napkins on the table—navy, charcoal, black? The lights in this dining room reminded me of the incandescent kind, dim with a yellow tinge. I mentioned that the lack of bright light could be the problem. My husband donned his headlamp and we soon knew the true color of the napkins: forest green.

Could we sometimes be guilty of lighting our part of the world with a dim bulb? Perhaps we politely chitchat with an acquaintance but fail to offer a pertinent reproof; maybe we satisfy our listeners with a harrowing story, neglecting to give God the glory for the happy ending. Sometimes it is not so much what we say, but what we leave out. Every part of this dark world needs a bright light shining the way to Christ.

My Mind’s Sign

The real-estate ad described a gutted older home in glowing terms, until the last sentence: “Enter at your own risk.” At times a sign with those words on it could hang at the entrance to my mind.

Worry turns my mind into a perilous place full of toxic materials. First, I must remember that worry is a sin. Second, I must resolve to trust rather than worry. Third, I must replace those worries with right thoughts. I can sing; I can pray; I can praise. I can ponder the countless times a situation looked impossible and yet the Lord turned it around. I can remind myself that God is on the throne, in control, and on my side. I can reflect on these truths concerning the circumstance: God allowed it; it’s good for me; get over it. 

With God’s help, I can scribble out those last four words of my mind’s sign.

When Quitters Win

Recently it occurred to me that I have never been alone for an extended period of time—not even for a full day. As an introvert, this realization startled me. So of course I should apply for a writing grant to explore this surprising situation and resolve it. I could spend some time alone to discover if that would kindle creativity, bore me silly, or cause me to lose my mind.

I selected the city and hotel; I determined that the experiment would last three days, Lord willing. I even began to plan menus, to pick which projects I would tackle, to consider how I would handle various scenarios if they came up.

But as I studied the grant guidelines, I began to have some serious doubts. After all, four years ago I had applied for something similar and lost; should I invest time in something so iffy?

Often we can learn from the closed doors in our lives. I had poured a lot of effort into that 2020 project; I had no desire to repeat the experience. That disappointment has helped me to spot red flags suggesting that there is little hope the judges will value my simple idea. Now I know when to quit before I even start. 

Sometimes quitting is the best approach; we should quit bad habits, for example. Besides that, deciding to leave one door closed can help us notice another one that the Lord has opened for us. That is one wonderful way quitters can win.

Pesto and People

With a whisk, I eagerly stirred the sauce. Though I had noted my family’s apprehension concerning pesto, this recipe would be different. After all, they all like macaroni and cheese; they would surely enjoy this flavorful addition to the dish.

The mountain of leftovers, however, confirmed that not all people fancy pesto—even in mac and cheese.

Maybe you tried to steer someone away from an unbiblical book, or you attempted to point out problems with a certain style of singing. You hoped for a warm reception, but instead your words were pushed away like a despised side dish. This can be disappointing. But never let prior rejection stop you from serving up another spoonful of truth.