There are moments when I am working outdoors that our environment forces me to stop what I am doing. Something will grab my attention and recently it has been the scent of wild honeysuckle. It is growing everywhere leaving behind a sweet essence.
I look at these plants with amazement and my goal is to leave them undisturbed but also try to remove the nearby weeds. I want to see them thrive and the only way to accomplish this is to remove what is unwanted.
This amazing plant has become a bright light in this area, but I know overtime the weeds will drown out that honeysuckle goodness. This gentle plant is a reminder of the good things we should protect and keep well. Sometimes that can even relate to ourselves.
Earlier that same morning I was reading in the book of Luke chapter 11, verses 33 through 36. I was thinking about my own life and was taken to a time of prayer. The Lamp of the Body hit close to home.
The Lamp of the Body - Verses 33- 36
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on it's stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, our body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.
Recently I haven't been feeling so great. Nothing terrible, just out of focus, slightly stressed and about what I have no idea. As a result, I felt lifeless.
A feeling of being out of sync was real and my attention to detail was like a bird flying from one branch to another. So as a result, I have been keeping quiet, spending my time gardening, in the art studio and less time online.
There was a shadow I needed to overcome; the only way to unravel it was through reading in the gospels. Which is good because through scripture in the book of Luke, I felt a deeper connection towards what Jesus was teaching, specifically in this metaphor, The Lamp of the Body.
He always taught this way in addition to using parables, this was done so that we could understand the difference between earthly and heavenly living. I believe it was also to understand what our heavenly father wants for our lives.
It's easy to forget this in our day-to-day activity because life moves at such a fast pace. Sometimes I even wonder if we are supposed to be moving at this speed. It's not healthy, it's not normal and I am beginning to avoid activity that pushes me towards unwanted noise.
The time frame in which Jesus was sharing this message was just as chaotic as to what we experience in the present day. He was encouraging the people to have a clear focus free from negativity and distractions.
Our eyes are the lamp and that is where our light shines with sparkles of good. But when we allow the ways of this world to take from us that lamp can grow dim. I believe that is why I haven't been feeling so great.
My encouragement here is to fuel your lamp with goodness and never be afraid to share that. There will be people who try to overshadow your efforts but just like those weeds trying to overtake the wild honeysuckle they too can be removed.
Always be mindful and allow this verse to be a reminder to choose what is good for your inner light.
Be the good,
Carole