I remember when our family vacationed on the Oregon coast at Newport. I was fascinated by the lighthouse located on the north side of Yaquina Bay. I was impressed when my parents explained the huge part reflectors – rightly placed mirrors – played in the night-time brightness of the lighthouse.
I like the way Eugene Peterson, author of a modern-language paraphrase of the Bible called ‘The Message,’ describes a human mirror named John the Baptist:
There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light. John 1:6-8, The Message
I have a friend who is lead pastor at a church here in Bend, Oregon. Until just recently this church was called “First Baptist.” I think the first ‘first baptist’ was John the Baptist. And he was a first baptist that was willing to play second fiddle. He didn’t want everyone looking at him, he knew he was the reflector, not the Light.
The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. John 1:9, The Message
I remember when I was trying to find safe port in my spiritual midnight. I was about to be on the rocks. Just then some Life-light reflected off a high school friend named Steve.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; John 1:5a, The Message
Not too long after that I negotiated myself across the bar and into safe port. I will be eternally grateful for that human lighthouse. I hope I can be that for someone else.
One minute life-assignment: Make a note to stop before I go to bed tonight and see if I can remember reflecting eternal light in any way today.