Basket or Beacon?

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16

How much thought are we to give about discipleship details?  How does talking about what we are going to do restrict our freedom to BE THE LIGHT FOR OTHERS?  Good question -- lots of considerations!  Sometimes our topics of conversation create thick, rigid webs of concern -- like the woven reeds of a heavy basket!  

Follow this:  

It is natural to try to manage choices and options when it comes to questions like:  Will you serve?  Will you consider doing (or giving) this for the sake of others?   

I suppose if what I have is mine (earned by me, protected by me, for the benefit of me), then it makes good sense to think about how anything I have will be guarded -- or given away.  But (in truth) everything that is most precious to me has been given -- not earned.  My most meaningful thoughts, my most effective abilities, and my most substantial relationships all have been given.  The energy I have, the ability to recognize love, even the desire to "see" God in the midst of ordinary situations -- all have been given.
We have been talking these days about everything that God gave in the gift of Love in Christ.  We have described the gift as light, truth, life itself.  And we have remembered that our baptism assures us that our connection to the source of everything that is Light has been permanently fused.  

So how do we obstruct that Light?  How do we minimize the power we have as children of God, rather than hold it aloft for all to see?  

I can only speak for myself.  

Here are some times when I allow the light to be shaded, as if it were under a basket:  

         When I doubt that the love of Christ will be sufficient to sustain whatever gentleness or understanding or (yes!) wisdom I may be given. 
         When I fall into fear that my effort will be inadequate or that I will be a disappointment (to myself or others).  
         When I become overly invested in the outcome of what I am doing.  The greater my expectations of what I am doing, the more critical I become of myself.   Self critique is more likely to limit what I am willing to risk for the sake of others.  In short -- my doing gets in the way of simply being.  

Being "in" the light illuminates our words and deeds in a way that draws others to the light.  The power that motivates and sustains our actions attracts others and allows them to experience the Love and Light of Christ given freely for all.  Holding the light high, we may even lose interest in whether or not others remember us, or even what we did or said.  What is important is that they go toward the Light.  

The reading from Matthew teaches that we are the light, we are in the light, and we are each (and all) called display that light.  

No baskets.  No self imposed shades!  Hold the Light which ignites your faith high, and let it (and yourself) be a beacon to others.