The Lighter of Lights

When Jesus spoke again to the people He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

One of the more pleasant memories I have is when an idea came to me that would help our Fairhaven High School alumni raise money toward our beautiful high school’s restoration. That was over forty years ago and we called it “Light-A-Light”.

Here’s the basic idea: A large Christmas Tree was generously donated and placed in front of the High School. We ran a fund-raising campaign where people could pledge $5.00 per light to be lit on the evergreen tree. It was roundly accepted as a unique and valuable way to generate funds in our restoration effort. Most amazingly, with minor modifications, the Light-A-Light effort continues successfully and enthusiastically in raising money to this day, thanks to the faithful effort of dedicated alumni volunteers.

At this time in my life, I’m more impressed with a desire for another type of Light-A-Light campaign; this one has been ongoing with far more of an eternal consequence. It transcends a local building, human finances, and a temporal evergreen tree. This effort is about restoring living souls, understanding Godly value, and illuminating our Creator’s Tree of Life Spirit. For a number of years, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering at the Salvation Army facility in New Bedford, a Christian ministry with a world-wide influence for over 159 years. The scripture that leaps out from my experience at this local branch is found in Isaiah 58:10. “And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday.”

As we observe our world darkening around us, let’s keep faith that any looming desert will soon give way to the Promise Land and the only Lighter of Light that matters. There’s nothing more promising and restorative than to hear God’s voice once again say to each of our hearts – “Let there be light!”