January: Shining Our Light III

by Troy Chapman

(published January 07)

In the month of January, we’ve been exploring “Shining Your Light”: being the light of the world. We’ve received some great examples and here’s one more. Thank you all for the examples you sent of moments when you found yourself shining a light.

Here’s one from our friend Janice:

A few years ago, Bob and I were waiting to take a three-hour train ride home. The train was late. Most of the crowd was in an apathetic state, including me. Gradually, I noticed a frantic rhythm coming from the person standing next to me. I would guess he was in his late teens and he was rapidly going through all his bags and pockets. I wasn’t sure whether to step in, but as he continued his hunt I decided I would.

“Did you lose something?”

“Yes, I need to buy a ticket home and I’m short a few dollars.”

“By how much?”

“Let’s see.” He counted his money again. “I think about $5.00.”

“Here,” I said, finding and handing him two fives. “Use the second one to buy yourself a cup of coffee or something to eat on the way home.”

He handed the second five back to me and said, “No, that’s all right, I just need one five.”

“But keep the other five in case you need something during the trip,” I said.

“No, that’s O.K. I only want to take what I need,” he insisted, “Thank you. Thank you so much!”

I didn’t press him further to take the other five because I could see that it was important to him to be honorable, and I so respected that.

I don’t have children, but I thought that if I did have a son and he was in trouble, I would definitely want someone to help him. And I felt that I had done this for his mother, too.

…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. … Our playing small does not serve the world. … We were born to manifest the glory of spirit, which is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.” —Nelson Mandela