The Light Within
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Light doesn’t have to try to shine—it simply does. What if the light within you is already shining brighter than you realize?
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or to be the mirror that receives it.
— Edith Wharton
There is always light.
Only if we are brave enough to see it.
There is always light.
Only if we are brave enough to be it.
— Amanda Gorman
Matthew 5.14-16, The Message
Here’s another way to put it: 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.
Food for Thought
Light can take on many forms.
As a mom of two small children, I find myself wandering the halls of my home more often at night than I’d like. This usually begins with a call from my 3-yr-old from his bed down the hall. With the help of the light that filters in through our bathroom window, I can see well enough to make it to the hallway. Carefully placed nightlights along the hallway wall ensure that I safely avoid stepping on the building blocks left out during bedtime cleanup. As I approach their room, I pull shut the door on the bathroom light left on for children’s comfort. I lie down for a moment while he falls back asleep, and then I begin my journey back to my own bed. Sure enough, just about the time I’m crawling back under the covers, another, quieter voice yells out, and the journey through the dimly lit hallway begins again.
Jesus reminds us, “You are the Light of the world” – a luminous gift that brings out the God-colors of this world, bearers of a holy light that is meant to be shared. Shine it generously with your lives!
We all know people who shine their light generously – those whose warmth and love just radiates effortlessly into the world.
Some shine like a disco ball, reflecting joy in colorful, playful ways that bring energy and laughter. Some glow with the gentle warmth of a table lamp, offering quiet comfort and steady reassurance. Some bring the soft, comforting glow of candlelight, creating a sense of peace and closeness. Others carry the steady, abiding light of a lantern, walking alongside us through life’s winding paths. Some shine like a lighthouse, guiding with wisdom and love, helping others find their way. And some, like a sunbeam, illuminate everything around them with unshakable positivity, joy, and goodness.
My Grandma Jung was a light that shined bright and free. She was a sparkling kind of light with a creative soul. She also surrounded herself with light — putting glitter in her wall paint and prisms in her living room window. Her heart just seemed to sparkle through her eyes. I could see it in her so clearly, but it is not always easy to see it in myself.
This is probably true for all of us—it’s often much easier to see the light shining from someone else’s life than it is to recognize the source and gift of our own. We admire the warmth, wisdom, and radiance in others, yet we hesitate to believe that the same light exists within us. Maybe we assume our light is too dim, too ordinary, or too small to make a difference.
But Jesus makes it clear: You are the light of the world. The light of God is in you—that’s who you are created to be. The world needs your light. The world needs your kindness, your love, your creativity, your courage. It needs the unique way you reflect God’s love—whether like the gentle glow of candlelight, the steady beam of a lighthouse, or the unexpected shimmer of a prism catching the sun.
Poet Amanda Gorman asks the question, “Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” In her response she offers, “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
Let us be brave enough to see and be the light we are called to be.
In a world that is not always kind, let us be kind.
In a world that feels deeply divided, let us build connection.
In a world that often diminishes true value, let us seek out beauty.
In a world bent toward despair, let us embody joy.
In a world of shade, let us carry the light.
And when you grow weary, when you wonder if your light is enough, remember that even the smallest glow can help light the way.
How do you shine your light in the world? Are you warmth and encouragement like a candle? Do you guide others like a lighthouse? Do you bring joy like a sparkling disco ball? Reflect on the unique ways God’s light shines through you. Then draw a picture of the light that most reflects you and put it somewhere visible as a reminder to you to shine your light this week.
Take time to notice and appreciate the different ways people in your life shine their light. Think of those you know who bring kindness, joy, wisdom, or guidance into the world. Offer a moment of gratitude for them, or take time to write them a note thanking them for the generous ways they share their light.
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
God of light and love,
Sometimes it is easy to see the light—and sometimes, the light feels distant, hidden beneath the weight of exhaustion, doubt, or fear. But You have called us, each of us, to shine. Not with a light of our own making, but with Yours. Help us to trust that your light is already within us. Help us to be brave enough to see it, brave enough to be it, walking always in your light, and shining always with Your love.
Amen.
A little Table Talk for your table...
Can you think of a time when someone’s light helped guide you through a difficult or uncertain moment? If someone were to describe the way you shine your light, what do you hope they would say?
What are some barriers that make it difficult for you to shine your light? How can we grow to shine through the obstacles that hide our light?
Where in your community, or the world, do you see a need for more light? How might you respond?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Have fun exploring light together! Grab a flashlight and step into a dark room—notice how even the smallest beam helps reveal what was once hidden. Use prisms to scatter rainbows across your walls, or take a mirror and experiment with reflecting light in new directions. If your child has sequined clothing, let them twirl and watch as their sequins catch the light, making the whole room sparkle. As you explore, talk about what you notice.
Talk together about different kinds of light, and how they can help us or make the world better.
Consider together what it means to shine your light in the world.
Meet This Week’s Writer!
Lin Story-Bunce is a North Carolina native and lovingly calls Greensboro, NC home. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Wake Forest University and has served a wonderful and thoughtful congregation at College Park Baptist Church since 2009, pastoring to families and their faith development. Most of all, Lin loves the moments she gets to connect with her family, snowboarding with her wife, and keeping up with their four kiddos and two energetic pups. Lin is a teacher, preacher, dreamer, and procrastinator who has a knack for trying to do way too many things in far too little time.
To hear more from Lin throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!