Be the Light – Modern Day Stories of Jesus Adventures
People are drawn to the light. I suppose bugs are too, but I digress. 🙂 Have you ever been on an airplane at night and looking down see the lights of a distant city? Pretty cool, huh? The glow of a campfire draws us in and stories told around these same fires are memorable.
Jesus revealed His Kingdom using images of light and storytelling around the campfires of Galilee. You know what? Stories of His Kingdom are still being written today. The light still draws people together.
I am so encouraged by my friends Ryan & Laura Hairston and their family. They are torch bearers in their neighborhood continuing to retell the story of Jesus to their neighbors. And guess what? People are drawn to a good story, yet most of all to a good, good Father.
This is the Hairston’s story:
This weekend we celebrated 2 years of the faith community that was started in our neighborhood. As we reflected as a group I was humbled and amazed by the each persons comments on how their life has radically changed, how Jesus has changed their life and the trajectory of their family, and how this faith community has made a significant impact in our community.
A few new families were present. One of the families present joined us for our Easter Dinner/Celebration last week. This family lives in the neighborhood, has children at the same school of our children, and also has a daughter on Hadley’s (our oldest daughter’s basketball team). We met this family back in December when the basketball season started. Twice a week at practice and games we would intentionally connect, get to know, and come to appreciate the value the family brings to many including us.
As we shared brunch, others were open and inclusive with the new families. After brunch, we gathered for discussion around what it looks like to demonstrate the Kingdom in our neighborhood in the way we live and in the things we say. This one new family in particular remained silent for most of the discussion then towards the end the father spoke up. (This family moved here from Cancun last fall).
We all were silent as he shared. He said that he early in his childhood he was involved in the Catholic church in Mexico. His mother was religious but her actions and the actions of others were completely different from the things discussed when they gathered at church. As a result, he said that he gave up on God and honestly has not thought about him until recent. He shared that he made making money and work and power his God but these things never fulfilled.
He went on to share that when he met those who were part of this faith community/church he wanted to give God another chance. He said that he had never met a group of people who were so inclusive, that really wanted to know him, that shared life like this group, and when he asked about the group everyone simply said it’s a group of people who share life and food, look to Jesus, and want to make our neighborhood look like Heaven. Anyone is included, there were no hoops to cross, and everything that was said match what he observed.
He finished by thanking everyone for being inclusive, for the genuine beginnings of new friendships, and what seems to be a safe place to find his way again.
His story reminded me of the Message Version of Matthew 5:14-16
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
The story of this man exemplified to me and our faith community what we have been about the last few years here in the neighborhood. We pray for many more stories of individuals and families being open to the wooing of Jesus. We pray that by the way we live and speak we would continue alerting people (through our words and actions) here in our neighborhood to the reign and rule of God through Christ.
Our family is so humbled by God’s grace and by the opportunities He has given us to participate with Him as He draws people near Him.
