The picture above is of a very bright sunrise at Buckroe Beach, Virginia, a place where I spent many late spring and early fall days as a boy. There used to be a wonderful amusement park and we young folk enjoyed the park as well as the beautiful beach. But I put the picture up this morning to use in addressing those very concerns of that nice person who seemed so distressed. Why? Because a glorious sunrise, an event which turns darkness to light and brightens the world around us is a good way to be reminded of the importance of our faith. For, just as God created the sunrise, He created His Son as well to come to the earth, to teach and preach and prepare us for life after He departed this earth, then died a tragic and horrible death on the Cross from those very people He came to save. But those who remembered and pushed forward to grow His audience and develop His Church went through much greater vile behavior and treatment for Him. And because of that, we are expected to weather the storm and spread His message.
And so, on this Friday morning, I hope that my friend remembers that all things happen for a reason and that they must stand for what they believe and never lose sight of what it means through faith. We can't control what others do and in those cases that are just truly hopeless, sometimes we must just walk away. There are many others, however, who are searching for something better in life, something that has true meaning and lasting hope, and it is those people that the way we act with the love in our heart has impact. We may never know who is positively impacted, but they are and it is those that we can provide a positive influence to that brings them to Goodness and Light is where we need to focus our efforts. After all, it is our dear Savior who died for us who is that very Goodness and Light and He can bring them to Salvation just as He is doing for us. Remember, sometimes it's nothing more than a good word or little act of kindness that opens the heart, so each of us should commit to at least one little act of kindness directed at someone we might not even know on this and every other day. Just think, that results in three hundred and sixty five people impacted in a year and even playing the odds that likely ends up with significant success. And, dear friend out there, I hope you are letting the SON SHINE IN as you watch a beautiful sunrise each and every day as well. Be blessed on this day.