My life is a little different the past few years. There is much less traveling now that I no longer own a camper. Having the camper allowed us to travel a multitude of places, on many weeks and weekends during the summer. I miss many things about all of that. I miss spending quality time with family, traveling with friends, campfires with “pudgy pies” seeing new places and just getting away from the “right here” for a little while. While I miss all of these things, the one thing I think I miss most is my time away with God. I always felt closer to God at the beach, and I always took time each day on our trips to spend time with God and write reflections. Up until this week, I thought these reflections were because of my location, along a sandy beach with shells around, in the mountains with lakes to look at or even a theme park.

What I realized as I took a mini “homecation” for a couple days is that the thing I missed most hasn’t changed. Taking time out the past few days to really focus on God and my walk with him is what my whole being needed. The reflections that I thought only came when I was away were there this evening too. I wasn’t away in an exotic place, by a beach, in another state, of experiencing something new, I was sitting quietly on my deck with a fan blowing on me because it was 97 degrees all day with my two pups by my side. I realize the real reason I felt able to write a reflection tonight was because as I normally would while traveling, I took time out for God. I spent quality time working on a bible study, not just rushing thru the motions like I do a lot of work days, giving God only the “best ten minutes of my day.”

As I sit on the deck of my home, I have an amazing view of the City of Cortland. Looking from my porch, I can see miles and miles of beautiful tree lined hills, lights shining around the city, a fading sunset with a hint of pink and orange, and fire flies. Fireflies are my favorite.

Fireflies are the tiniest of insects, but their glow is bright and amazing in the night sky. This can be a spectacular sight if you take the time to watch. Slowing down enough and taking my face away from my phone, there is a spectacular show to be seen. They seem to dance about in patterns of what I am imaging is happiness. What can be learned from this, maybe it is that the smallest of light can seem bright and joyful in the darkness. Is that what we as followers of Jesus are supposed to be? Not all of us are called to be the famous preacher, the newest Christian musical artist, or head oversees as missionaries, but we are all called to be the little bit of light in someone’s darkness. Thinking over my past three years I realize that the things I remember most are the people that were lights in my darkness. I remember those that truly directed me back to Jesus.

I believe the bible calls us to be lights in a dark and lost world- Let’s look at Mark 12:30-31. In this verse we learn the most important commandments after Jesus died for us. Love the Lord your God with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Is there any way we can truly love our neighbor without showing the light of Jesus to those around us? Like the fireflies in the sky we as Christians can be the light others need in the darkest of moments. While the light of one is awesome when they come together, the light of many fireflies is an impressive thing. Being the light in someone’s darkness, can be listening, sitting with someone, purchasing something, fixing something or praying for someone; any of these things can be a light. The one thing that this light must be however is genuine. True caring and involvement is a must. Nothing shows the love of Jesus more than genuinely investing in someone. When you truly care it shows and they can see Jesus through you. If each of us as Christians decide to be a firefly in someone’s life we come together as a beautiful light show in this community.

Someone recently told me that in their home country of Germany, when people ask “how are you?” they expect to take time and listen for a real answer and here in America she finds that people just want an “I’m fine” and keep on moving. I thought this was an interesting observation because I know that I often ask that question, not thinking it will cost me a great deal of time. What if each time we asked that question we really wanted to know? What if when being butterflies we were genuinly investing in others?

As I stopped thinking about fireflies for a moment, I started thinking about my view, I began realizing that in many ways it is as vast and amazing as an Ocean view can be. God of the ocean is also the God of the mountains and valleys. This reminds me of an amazing Christian Song – God of the mountains. You see God is in it all. As the sky becomes less pinkish and gets darker, I can now see not only the fireflies but the lights of homes and businesses in the City of Cortland, Village of Homer and other surrounding areas. These lights all represent what statically is a lot of people, many of which have never even heard the name of Jesus. I see lights which could be homes or places where someone is sitting alone, someone is using drugs, a child is watching parents fight, a family sits together watching TV, a teenager playing video games in their room shutting others out, people enjoying listening to music, people spending time with friends and family, people playing miniature golf, people going for a walk with someone they care about or even people helping others in their time of need. This is a city with much going on and the one thing each of the people I described has in common is they are all in need of Jesus.

For those that know Jesus and are committed to him we need to step away from our phones and social media and relax with him and let him show us how to truly love our neighbors. For those that have not given their lives to him, you need “fireflies” sent by him to provide the hope this broken world simply cannot offer.

For those that are Christian lets be “fireflies” this week. Lets light up someone’s darkness and show them the light of hoping in Jesus. For those that do not believe know there is a God who loves you in spite of all the darkness you feel, be open to the “fireflies” in your life that want to show you hope.

Have a great rest of the week, I am off to work tomorrow.

Diana