Let Your Light Shine

Madison did this, mainly because it was the thing she was supposed to be doing for art class.  She didn't get to do her artwork because of a fire drill, which came at the worst possible time:  she loves art.  Still, she created this at home, and we think it came out well.  It was inspired by the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, and as an added touch, she put "Let Your Light Shine" on the bottom.

How blessed we are.  And how lovely are her thoughts, full of peace and hope.  The world is not that place now, unfortunately.  At least that's what is being presented currently on social media and televisions.  Once again there is racial tension, and once again there is a lot of ugliness.  How nice to look away from that, and look towards something sweet like this.  And there's a point to it too, as the world is indeed a dark place.  Yet here is Madison, letting her light shine.

Tonight we returned to piano class, although it was just Madison and her classmates in class now.  Currently, only kids are in there with Mrs. Pam, and Madison said she did well with the new musical selections she's been practicing.  She's actually been doing something more than what she was supposed to, so Madison might be a little ahead of things.  Meanwhile, Mommy went grocery shopping, and Daddy simply stayed in the parking lot of the piano class.

While a helicopter overhead circled.  We're not too far from the town square, and apparently someone showed up on a motorcycle with a gun and possibly ammunition.  Police went to ask this person what they were doing, and that person fled.  Hence the chasing, the helicopter, and several state patrol cars and local city cruisers flying by.  The person was not apprehended.  The thought was that the statue in the middle of town of a confederate soldier was in danger of vandalism, given the state of things today.

Anyway, it was a bit of a nervous situation with a helicopter circling overhead, but with hindsight, we weren't really in danger.  But all of these confederate statues are suddenly targets by people who feel justified by a higher law than the one that exists in our country.

And that higher law apparently allows people to inflict pain and vandalism to justify their cause.  Not that the other side of the argument is clean either.  Having moved from the north to Dixie Land, Daddy was basically a Yankee amongst a sea of folks that people could easily stereotype as rednecks.  But outside of those scary marches on the town square by people wearing those ridiculous sheets, Daddy didn't witness much in the way of racism.  Maybe it was just the friends I found myself amongst.  I remember specifically a KKK march in Madison, Georgia, and our school group there for a talent contest the same day.  I remember acting all manly with a few of the other guys, "protecting" our friend Sabrina.  We were just kids, but I remember being ready for a fight that we're glad never really happened.  We were ready to do battle, I guess just like many others were this past weekend.  Back then, other than coming to gawk at the ridiculous sheets, the other plan of action was simple:  ignore them.  This weekend, a new strategy came out:  destroy them.  Somewhere in between is the real answer, of course.  But people are not humble enough to admit they are wrong, not humble enough to say they are sorry, and just as importantly, not humble enough to say I forgive you.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

We're not humble enough.  And the scary thing is that God has a way of making us humble enough in a real hurry.  That time is coming, we fear.  Until then, we'll let Madison's timely message sink in:  "Let your light shine."