Song to Share – My Lighthouse
The image of LIGHT is a powerful image.
South African Bishop Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
Light overcomes darkness.
God’s light shines into our lives in a powerful way.
There are things in our lives that we want to hide in the darkness, and our hope is that no light would ever shine upon it. There are secrets we wish no one will ever see. We may even fear what the light will reveal.
Jesus is the light of the world – the light that shines in the darkness so brightly that no darkness can overcome it.
This light shines into the darkest crevices of our very being. Exposed. The harsh reality we face is that God knows you and me. God knows what we hope will never be seen. God knows you. Inside and out. Upside and down. Good and bad. All of you.
While that may be hard to hear, also hear this.
The one that God knows is the one that God loves.
We are not defined by what we hide in the darkness. We are not defined by what we parade in the light.
Instead, we are defined by the One who defines us. We are defined by the one who knit us together in the wombs of our mothers. We are defined by the one who made us, named us, and claimed us in the waters of baptism.
The one that God knows is the one that God loves.
A couple years ago, in the first few months of COVID, we gathered in the sanctuary of my previous congregation, all wearing masks, socially distanced, grouped in family units to celebrate this stepping stone of faith – young men and women affirming their baptism. We had planned to be outside but it was too cold and wet.
We remembered the promises parents, sponsors and congregations made at the font several years earlier for these kids. We rejoiced the day they were baptized, as did God.
And now they step forward to take those promises and make them their own.
We sang a song. No, let me clarify – we listened to a song with our masks on and mouths closed.
How I hate COVID.
The song that was offered is called “My Lighthouse” by Rend Collective. I will share a link below.
Some of the words from that song -
In my wrestling and in my doubts In my failures You won't walk out Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea You are the peace in my troubled sea
In the silence, You won't let go In the questions, Your truth will hold Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea You are the peace in my troubled sea
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness.
I will follow You Safe to shore
I won't fear what tomorrow brings With each morning I'll rise and sing My God's love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea You are the peace in my troubled sea
Fire before us, You're the brightest You will lead us through the storms Fire before us, You're the brightest You will lead us through the storms
What binds us together is the light that shines in the darkness that NO darkness can overcome.
Let me repeat that – the light that NO DARKNESS can overcome.
As I listened to the words, I yearned for that light.
The Lighthouse.
Christ, our light.
The light of the world.
In the midst of the darkness we face, be it COVID or politics or illness or shutdowns or supply chain disruptions or broken relationships or cloud-covered dreary days or… (you can add your own darkness and gloom), Christ our Light shines.
As God’s beloved, may we let God’s light shine upon us, and may we also reflect God’s light to those in our lives who yearn for God’s light.
Let us pray:
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in Your church every day. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen