Shine On

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I was at the DMV when I realized times had changed. I could not make out the teeny tiny letters on the bottom line of the eye exam chart. I’d always had perfect vision, so I grumbled quite a bit when my husband drove me to the optometrist office a few weeks later.

The young eye doctor dilated my pupils and crouched down to take a deep look into the back of my eye. “Are you experiencing any headaches?” she asked.

She seemed surprised when I said no. Then, she left the room, and another doctor with gray hair and more years of experience marched in with a concerned look on his face. He picked up a lens, shined a bright light right at my baby blues, and spent what seemed like an eternity making an assessment.

“Are you experiencing any headaches?” he asked. Apparently, my super-sized optic nerve was waving a big red flag of alarm. I ended up visiting two other doctor’s offices that same day – including a neurologist.

The neurologist ordered a spinal tap. One week later, I donned a hospital robe and waited in a cold, sterile room for a doctor to insert a needle into my vertebrae.

I don’t like needles of any kind. To help calm my nerves and quiet my racing thoughts, I brought along a dozen or so yellowing 3 x 5 cards with Scriptures on them. I quietly rehearsed the verses over and over again as I waited:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7, NKJV).
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17).
“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

As I flipped through the cards, the doctor walked in to begin the procedure. “Are you studying for a test?”

“Yes, I guess I am sort of studying for a test.” I smiled in reply. I explained to the doctor the sacred words scrawled in my sloppy handwriting on these cards reminded me that my God was in control of today’s procedure.

That day, I unexpectedly let my little light shine in a doctor’s office. This season of life has provided many more obstacles that have transformed into opportunities to shine brightly for my Savior.

Rather than become a recluse filled with regret, choose to use each moment of your today to radiate. Redeem every moment. Matthew 5 reminds us: “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” (vs. 14-16, MSG).