The Power of Light

"Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. "

Isaiah 60:20 

   Tonight I tried out a new church here on campus called Cru. I walked in and noticed immediate differences from my home church from last year- it was a smaller setting, much more intimate, with a modern entry way leading into a dimly lit wooden A-frame chapel. And although at first I was a bit wary of how different it was compared to The City, I am so incredibly glad I went.

      The message was very moving and exactly what I needed to hear. It was focused on the theme of light throughout scripture, how God's goodness is described as light, Jesus as light of the world, us as believers called sons or daughters of light, how darkness is unable to overtake light, how our light is meant to shine and not be hidden, etc etc. And as he was speaking of the power of light and how God has given us the amazing ability to shine for him and provide light for those lost in darkness, my soul was lifted.

      Being here at Vanderbilt has been such a great experience, but often times I find myself feeling as if I don't quite fit in with everyone I meet. This is not a new feeling- people partied and drank and did all of those sorts of things just as intensely as at UW. It's just that being so far away from home I don't have my older sister to understand and watch out for me, or my sorority sisters or church friends to uplift me. Especially upon first arriving here, I felt VERY alone in my faith. Everyone had the motto of work hard, play harder- and they weren't talking board games . Drinking, smoking, hooking up - it's just not who I am. It's not who I will ever be. But it's what everyone seemed to think was fun and what was the common connector between people who were all so different, and for the first time in my life, I felt pressured to drink. Not pressured in the way that it became a temptation or something I wanted to do, but pressured in the way that I realized that I definitely would be losing out on a large group of friends if I did NOT party with them. That realization concreted a feeling of loneliness, but faithful as God always is, he brought some other incredible Christian friends into my life shortly after.

      However, it still is something that in the back of my mind upset me- that people truly would cast people out as friends because of a moral difference. It was something that when I first got here, I almost find myself wanting to hide- I knew nobody and wanted the comfort of having instant friends and so was hesitant to share the fact that I don't drink and why.

      Tonight I realized that that entire time I was forgetting that I had no reason to feel left out or ostracized- for indeed I am part of something bigger. I am part of God's greater light, meant to shine upon the darkness that is present every day in our world. In being different I am able to let the light of God shine from me, and that in turn has an impact on those around me. I, we all, have a higher purpose in this world and hold more influence than we believe. We should not be afraid to use that influence, to let that light shine, for it is that light that transformed our lives and it is that light that is the only and greatest hope for the world. I am proud to love God and so grateful for everything He has done in my life- and I refuse to hide or repress that. I'll let my light shine and my love grow, and in doing so I know I am part of a bigger community that surely trumps the everyday trials of being a college student just wanting to fit in. So for everyone out there who has ever felt the same way, know that I feel where you are coming from. And also know that you are a unique instrument that God specifically created with one of a kind talents that were designed to truly make the world a better place and bring love to people.
     Don't shy away from that- at times it will seem the easy, safe thing to do. Isn't it funny how sometimes we don't even notice that we are in a way afraid of our own light? Let it shine- be different, be brave, and above all, be encouraged. For nothing can ever put the fire in your heart out except for you.

         "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

            John 1:5