I lay down my book. Childhood memories flooded my mind. The paragraph I had been reading told of an old lamplighter, and in a mist of recollection I recalled a shadowy figure who visited our street. He came every evening at dusk and, standing beside the lamp at our gate, he would lift a long pole up to the gas lantern. A pool of light would spill across our Victorian pathway and our world would be bathed in light. It seemed like a miracle. I was amazed that I had remembered this scene from years ago.

  

To a child, I suppose those strings of twinkling lights were both magical and memorable. But more impressive still is the memory of lights shining in the darkness, one after another like a chain of Chinese whispers, until every city street-light was  lit.

  

As my mind dwelled on lights in the darkness, I thought about our faith. Every time we speak about our faith, it is akin to a lamp being lit. Every word lights a spark, and from that spark comes the great light of revelation. Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world.’ May the light of our personal testimony shine brightly for him.

Prayer: Lord, may we shine brightly in the world for you. Amen