Do you give off light or smoke? You know – if you were a campfire or a backyard fire pit? Which one are you primarily – a light-giver or a smoke-giver? I’m convinced that everyone leans one direction or another based on my fifty years of experience on the planet. Especially on social media. Whew! Some folks generate seriously blinding smoke with their Facebook and Insta memes and rhetoric, don’t they? Well, I’d like for us to explore how to give off more light than smoke. Our world seems to be figuratively on fire, so let’s get to it.
I really LOVE to burn stuff.
Much to my own delight, I recently bought a portable fire pit designed to be relatively smoke-free. I won’t go into the scientific mechanics of “secondary burn”, but I will say that I really like to (safely) ignite stuff! It’s therapeutic for me. I set that kindling ablaze and my stress level drops by at least half. There is something mesmerizing and soothing about quietly staring into controlled flames outside in the dark on a crisp autumn night. The way the fire wraps around the oak and cedar logs like an embrace. It is a powerful, beautiful, grounding experience for me.
That being said, my roaring fire pit generates three things in varying amounts – light, heat and smoke. Two of those things are desirable and feed my soul. Conversely, one of those things stings my eyes and makes me cough.
The same can be said of people in our lives. There are people who bring light and warmth. And on the other hand, there are people who churn out choking smoke. How would our friends, co-workers, neighbors and own family members describe us? Would they say we are light-givers? Or smoke-givers?
Regardless of our answers to those questions, I know who we are called to be.
We are called to bring light.
“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light!” [Ephesians 5:8. MEV]
“You are the light of the world.” [Matthew 5:14. MEV]
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us take off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” [Romans 13:12. MEV]
By the way, out of equality and fairness, I searched for Bible passages about being the SMOKE of the world. I couldn’t find any.
But exactly HOW do we do that? How do we give off more light than smoke?
Step #1 – Be honest about your fuel source.
For starters, I can tell you that my backyard fire pit behaves differently depending on what I put in it. Well-seasoned, dry quality hardwoods like oak, maple and cedar give off high amounts of light and warmth with very little residual smoke. On the flip side, soggy “yard garbage” like wet leaves generate almost all thick choking smoke.
So, first figure out what you are consuming in the “fire pit” of your soul. Are you burning solid fuel from beautiful sources? Or are you igniting “yard trash” of ugliness and divisiveness? I promise you, friends, you will generate the byproduct of your selected fuel source.
Step #2 – Know where to find high-quality fuel.
If we want our fires to generate light, then our second step involves knowing WHERE to find that well-seasoned, solid hardwood. In other words, where can we successfully harvest quality fuel for our souls? In my experience, our best natural resource is mature people. Real actual in-the-flesh humans. But not just any random people. You have to find “persons of peace”, because they are reliable light-givers.
Jesus gave a list of people who would be first in His kingdom. Let’s look at what He had to say in these verses often referred to collectively as the “Beatitudes”. (Not “BAD attitudes” like I misheard as a little girl in Sunday School. Ha ha!)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called the sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:3-10. MEV]
I think Jesus gave us some guidance in those words as to WHERE to find solid sources of soul-fuel. In other words, the meek (humble) and the merciful. The pure in heart. Those hungry and thirsty for righteousness. And the peacemakers.
If we want to generate more warm light than choking smoke, then THOSE are the people we want to consume. THEY are the high-quality fuel for our own fire pits.
Step #3 – Burn, baby, burn!
So first, we honestly examine our own fuel sources. Secondly, we choose to seek out and consume solid hardwood in the form of “persons of peace”. And lastly, we light our own fires and burn them brightly out in the open.
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:14-16. MSG]
What can YOU do today to be a light-giver? Ask God to show you an opportunity – however small or grand it may be. And when He does, then DO IT. Humbly. With grace and mercy. And with a pure heart, seeking nothing for yourself. Avoid creating choking smoke. Instead, be a light.
Go burn brightly, friends.
xoxo, Melissa
