LIGHT AND SALT

Image via Wikipedia

Light and Salt share some of the same properties.

Both aren't to be stuck away in some cupboard - they cry out to be shared, to be used, to make a difference.
Both are helpful, making life easier, nicer, more bearable.

Light - helping me see the way, see what I couldn't see before, "enlightening" me. Making the invisible visible.

Salt - brings out the taste, the flavours. Disinfects wounds, bringing healing. Preserves.


Interesting that Jesus instructs His followers to be just that.
Salt and Light.

So suddenly our faith is no longer a private affair. A personal matter. Between me and my God. Suddenly my faith is thrust out there for all to see, to taste, to test.
When light comes it makes a definite difference. No doubt about it. It might even shine in some eyes and cause discomfort, for one - it cannot be ignored.
Salt makes the previously inedible taste great. It's influence cannot be missed - and when it is missing - everyone knows it.

So here I am with my dilemma. Being salt and light means I can no longer live just for me, no longer selfishly hold the light of Christ, the salt of healing for myself.

So am I prepared to let my light shine just a "little" - let's not rock the boat; or am I prepared to be a lighthouse with a capital L. Shining blindingly for all to see for miles around. Saving countless lives because of my unselfish, ceaseless "shining" despite surrounding darkness.

Salting everything around me, bringing healing and preservation and taste to a tasteless, ugly tasting world. Making things better, nicer, different?

That is the challenge. And am I prepared to start right here, right now, in my world, with the light and salt I have, not letting the darkness, the bleakness, the tastelesness overwhelm me, pushing my light back, causing me to lose my flavour amidst the pressure to conform.

One step at a time.
One act of love and kindness at a time.
One show of goodness in exchange for badness.
Day in and day out.