Hastings: Living as light
“You are the light of the world … your light must shine before others so that they may see your good acts and give praise to your Abba God in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16 The Inclusive Bible
The fabled contest between the North Wind and the Sun to get a traveler to remove his coat is not in the Bible. But it could be. This story expresses timeless wisdom like that of Proverbs which shows the way to discern between wise and foolish paths in life.
As proverbial wisdom, the North Wind and the Sun reflect two systems at work in the world. The North Wind represents a system of fear, repression and violence which values power, control and money. The Sun embodies a system of love, empowerment and peace which values compassion, justice and mercy.
Each day, each person chooses between these operating systems. The North Wind’s system of fear leads to increased isolation and misery. The Sun’s system of love leads to peace with the Creator, one’s self, others and nature.
As a forever election cycle plays out in our country and candidates seek to attract votes, some may more closely embody the North Wind while others seek to reflect the Sun. And those who vote will need to discern which way each candidate is leaning.
Whether by ballot or by daily activities great and small, each person around the world has the power to direct time, energy and creativity toward the system of their choice. People vote daily with their head and heart, hands and feet.
An investment in the North Wind’s system of fear will bring increased misery. An investment in the Sun’s system of love empowers each person to reflect the light that shines around the world.
The Rev. Celia M. Hastings has a master’s degree in religious education from Western Theological Seminary in Holland. She is author of “The Wisdom Series” and “The Undertaker’s Wife.”
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Hastings: Living as light
