Be Like The Son

Be Like the Son

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This past weekend, you likely celebrated the Christian holiday honoring Christ’s Resurrection. Embracing new life and a clean slate. A promise of the hope that is to come. Embracing the buds and blooms on the trees and on the flowers. A nudging that summer is neigh. Spring teaches us the beauty of patience and rewards us with the tangible evidence of what is to come in the summer. Winter wipes us clean…washes us white as snow. It’s a time to be still and reflect on the growth over the year. Spring is the awakening of the stillness. It’s proof that being still is a necessary part of life and does not mean stagnant. Christ washed us white as snow on that Friday. In the stillness of Saturday more was happening than we could ever see. Christ was not buried Friday, He was planted! He sprung new life for you and for me that glorious Sunday morning. The Saturday was a winter that leveled the ground and cleaned the slate as we sat in our stillness. Ah, but the victory of spring was just around the corner. What an incredible story. What an incredible sacrifice.

This past Saturday, I was enjoying the company of our Pitt Johnstown Mountain Cat Softball Game when I looked up to appreciate the warmth of the sun beating down on me. As I peered up to the sun, I was met with a beautiful sunbow, a rainbow around the sun. The beauty of this sunbow stretched beyond my eyes into my heart. It radiated colors and reminders of promises to come.

Out of curiosity, I wanted to see what made a sunbow different than a regular rainbow. A sunbow doesn’t require precipitation, it just requires the right kind of cloud with ice crystals refracting the sun. They happen more often than we realize, but their visibility isn’t always present. It made me think of people…we all are capable of shining so brightly and beautifully, but what is it that brings that out? Is it an act of kindness? Is it being gracious in a loss? Is it a sacrifice that is made? Is it lending a help handing? Sure people shine brightly in those moments. Their sunbows are visible in the good deeds…especially the ones that expect nothing in return. Regular rainbows show their beauty following a storm. How do you shine after a storm of life? When I really started to let these thoughts marinate, I challenged myself…can I be like the sun (Son)? Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” What if I could bring out the sunbows in others? I want to live a life and be a vessel that enables and encourages others to shine. I don’t want to wait for the exact right time, for the exact right lighting, or the exact right angle or opportunity to make that happen. I don’t want circumstances to be my opportunity to encourage others to shine, I want to be a daily light. We may not always see that because it gets clouded or covered by a storm or the earth turns its back on it (night time), but it never stops shining. People will try to cancel your sunshine. But shining through the clouds or rain makes the most beautiful colors. Keep shining.

Beyond the scientific definition of a sunbow, I found the following:

"For some traditional native people, the Sunbow or Whirling Rainbow is considered to be a sign from Creator, marking a time of great change, or transition on the Earth. This full-circle rainbow around the Sun, some elders say, can be understood as a sign to people of the necessity to live a life in respect and harmony with all the creations that make life possible: plants, animals, waters, minerals, fires, winds, and other human beings." There's also this said about the Whirling Rainbow "The Whirling Rainbow -- Prophecy There will come a day when people of all races, colors, and creeds will put aside their differences. They will come together in love, joining hands in unification, to heal the Earth and all Her children. They will move over the Earth like a great Whirling Rainbow, bringing peace, understanding and healing everywhere they go. Many creatures thought to be extinct or mythical will resurface at this time; the great trees that perished will return almost overnight. All living things will flourish, drawing sustenance from the breast of our Mother, the Earth. The great spiritual Teachers who walked the Earth and taught the basics of the truths of the Whirling Rainbow Prophecy will return and walk amongst us once more, sharing their power and understanding with all. We will learn how to see and hear in a sacred manner. Men and women will be equals in the way Creator intended them to be; all children will be safe anywhere they want to go. Elders will be respected and valued for their contributions to life. Their wisdom will be sought out. The whole Human race will be called The People and there will be no more war, sickness or hunger forever" Ancient American Indian Prophecy SOURCE: http://lifeheartandsoulblog.wordpress..."

As a Christian we know the beauty of the significance of a rainbow. Genesis 9:12-15 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.” While a rainbow is beyond beautiful, it is the product of tumultuous times. Our heartbroken Father, “reigned” down on a generation that was far from His heart. He longed and still longs for our hearts to be near to Him. His rainbow is a reminder of His promise of the hope that is to come. Are you near to Him? Seek Him with you’ll whole heart and the rainbow takes on a whole new life. It means so much more. It is the bridge that connects us to God and Christ, The Son, is the keeper of the gate that allows us on the bridge. You must go through Him to live in the Light. You must have the sun for the rainbow. You must have The Son for the promise.

What a beautiful sign of hope! We’ve experienced turmoil and unrest the last year in just about every category. Have you added to the chaos? Have you sat actionless, stagnant? Or have you been a light? Have you taken action? Hope requires action. We mustn’t sit by and wait for this prophecy to happen. Take ownership. Be the sun. Be like the Son. Christ truly brings out the best in others…in us…even if we don’t see it. When we live in His Grace, we have the sweet fragrance of forgiveness and the afterglow of His light. Be like Christ. Shine no matter the circumstance. Bring light to other’s rainbows. Don’t wait for an opportune time. Challenge yourself daily to be a light. Embrace each other’s opinions. That’s right, even if it is different from yours. Allow others to be heard and they will feel your warmth. Don’t be the wind and follow the trends and currents. The sun isn’t wishy washy. It remains steadfast, strong, and reliable. Do you question if the sun will rise? You can stand strong in who you are and what you believe, but that doesn’t mean you cannot be warm to others. You can still be kind without compromising your beliefs. In fact, kindness is a light that proves your sincerity. Try it out sometime. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Be a light, not lightning. Do not strike down others. Use your light for warmth. To simulate growth. Shine on.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.