Pastor's Message
I loved kaleidoscopes as a kid. I would sit on our porch and gaze at the wonderful designs and visions created from the play of light and cut stone. They seemed endless, at least to me. In fact, I still find myself marveling at them from time to time—the wonderful color combinations and intricate patterns of line that are created with just a simple twist of the viewing glass.
The key to kaleidoscopes is not the cutting and twisting of the stones, though. The real hero is the light. Without light, shining through the broken mirage of stone and glass, the vision would be blurred and unassuming. The light truly makes the difference.
In some ways, I think the church is like a kaleidoscope. The community of faith is cut from different stones and made into different shapes. We’re made from different colors, different backgrounds, displaying different gifts. In the end, we blend together to hopefully reflect a masterpiece from the Creator’s hand. But, in the end, the real secret ingredient is found in the light shining through our brokenness. The light, indeed, makes all of the difference in the world.
As disciples, we often celebrate our gifts. We praise our individuality. We honor our creativity and our diversity. But it’s also important to remember that, in the end, we are nothing unless we allow light to shine through us. As the Psalmist beautifully reminds us:
“For with You is the foundation of life and in Your light, we see light…”
May God’s spirit continue to enrich us as we continue to shine forth a witness of light and life through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Steve