Bumping into the invisible.

That moment when you're walking through a darkened house and stub your little toe on the door jamb or bed frame...... We have two small motion activated lights strategically located in our home. (A huge thank you to the former pastor for leaving them behind!) The sensor recognizes when we are walking through darkened hallways and pops on to help us navigate.

This morning I was reading my way through the latest "Leadership Journal" and came across a short insight about my identity as Christian and vocation as pastor (Fall 2015, Volume 36 No. 4, pg14).

Kevin J. Vanhoozer shared a quote from his former teacher,

"The joy of teaching lies not in one's own enthusiasm for the students, or even for the subject

matter, but rather for the privilege of introducing the one to the other." Stanley Woodworth

I love God.

I love people.

I love to see people have their own 'lightbulb' moment and realize the love of God perhaps for the first time.

He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your

strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’” (Luke 10:27, NIV)

My main task as a Christian is to worship and glorify God in everything. Secondary to this is being a pastor or a motion activated light sitting in a darkened footpath. I wait patiently, as a weary sleepy traveler wanders through, then I respond. I light the path and help them avoid the painful collisions that carry great pain. My greatest joys are loving God, loving people, and loving myself, but my call to ministry (my greatest joy) is connecting people wandering in darkness to the one who said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12b, NIV)

Stop!

Think!

Are you wandering in darkness or are you the dutiful motion sensor light waiting to illuminate the path for one wandering in dark places? Being a light for another is not relegated to ordained clergy. It is you and me working together to bring Jesus to one more person who needs Him. Go Shine!