“Get out of the way!” My daughter in the back seat was yelling at the cars in front of us as we were on our way to her dance class. She was frustrated at the amount of traffic in front of us and reacted like she had seen “someone” else react in the same situation. And, no, I’m not going to say who that “someone” was because I have a right not to incriminate myself!
But that frustration is so familiar to all of us. Unfortunately it flows from the all too common misconception that what “I’m” doing right now is more important than anything anyone else is doing so they should just get out of my way! Our pride and ego really does see the world as “me” centered and this is the cause of most of my own mistakes, sins, and bad choices.
However, there is a situation in my life that I don’t have nearly the amount of frustration I SHOULD have: What about the times I am in MY OWN way? Why aren’t I just as frustrated with those times when I am my own worst enemy; when my choices, my attitudes, my actions, are actually preventing me from moving forward in my own life? Truth be told, this reality is far more common in my everyday life than the frustrations of others “getting in my way.” So, how do I learn how to step aside out of my own way so that my life can become what it was meant to become.
Look at our Gospel Lesson today in Matthew 5:14-19:
The Lord said to his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Notice Jesus doesn’t say “MAKE” your light shine. He commands us to “LET” our light shine. Perhaps this appears as a minor difference but in actuality it’s a big deal! “Letting” my light shine sounds like the Light is already burning; the Light is already present, and all I have to do is get out of it’s way so that it can be seen. Just put the Light where it belongs; on a lampstand, so that the Light can do what it was made to do. The Light was meant to not only show me how to walk, but shine so brightly that those around me can see how they should walk as well. So, how do I “let” my light shine? It’s instructive that the Lord follows His command to “let” our light shine with comments about the commandments.
Today, are you in your own way? Is your life darkening your path and the paths of those around you because you are hiding your “light?” Perhaps it’s time to get out of your own way by humbly embracing the truth that God knows how to live well better than you do. By embracing this wisdom you can finally and consistently “let” the light already burning in your heart because you were created in God’s image shine on your life and on the lives of those around you. By embarking on the wise rhythm of the life of faith preserved in the Orthodox Church, your living can be so polished that it shines light on the lives of all around you. Isn’t it time to “let” your light shine? Isn’t it time to be Orthodox on Purpose?
P.S. We’re on our way toward the goal of making the full Video Project “A Journey to Fullness“ a reality! Have you seen the Demo Video? Have you visited the GoFundMe page? This is going to take all of us pulling together, so visit www.JourneytoFullness.com and find out if this is a project you can get behind!
