Reignite the Light

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

One of my pet peeves is the uncomfortable and lengthy process of refilling the propane tank. Removing it from the grill requires physical flexibility and strength, not to mention warm clothing in January. There are limited locations to get it filled, and the actual process requires me to exit my vehicle and spend more time in the cold. There is certainly a long list of items across the globe that should receive our attention, but a drive-through quick fill propane station would be nice. I guess I could just do a tank exchange, but wasting money is another pet peeve, so I guess I will continue to summon courage to suffer through this seasonal ordeal.

To exasperate the inconvenience, we recently received an outdoor propane gas fireplace. Now our propane use has more than doubled. But who can turn down grilled meat and a smoke-free fire on a cold winter evening? I find myself constantly reorganizing the lava rocks in the fireplace to create the perfect balance of flame. The rocks actually get in the way of the flame. It’s the cracks between the rocks that allows the light of the flame to shine through and provide beautiful illumination.

As believers we are called to shine the light of Jesus that lives inside of us to others. This is most commonly considered to be done through the good deeds God has prepared for us to demonstrate. But God also shines His light of love and redemption through the imperfect cracks. In fact, sometimes our good deeds can point more to ourselves rather than to God. But the cracks in our flesh can allow the light inside of us to peek out, much like cracked clay pots, or a lava rock fireplace. When you reflect on the men and women God has used through the centuries, the light of God’s goodness and power is often revealed through the imperfections of His people.

Nobody is fond of imperfections. We are upset with the imperfections in ourselves, and even more so upset with imperfections in others. Some imperfections are a result of our own willful decisions, and others are painful imperfections resulting from the Fall and are often out of our control. But in God’s goodness, He chooses to use these imperfections to allow His light to shine. When we place our ultimate trust in God, the imperfect cracks in our lives allow God’s light to shine out from us and into the lives of others. In our weakness, His strength and faithfulness can be revealed to others if we allow it. The imperfections in others is not always an opportunity to correct. When the light seems to be dimming in others, they might just need to be refueled. Allow the light that shines through your cracks to shine through the cracks of others to help reignite the light inside of them.
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent