In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16 The Apostle Matthew quotes Jesus as giving this directive right after Jesus makes his famous “beatitudes” speech whereby he turns the ideas and notions of the word, “blessed” on it’s head by pointing out that our understanding of “blessed” is radically incorrect in the eyes of God. In the eyes of God, being blessed are those who are poor in spirit, meek, mourning, hungry, and persecuted. The general idea and theme being that blessed people are people who appear to have so little blessing in their lives that they need to be blessed just to get by. If you give it enough thought, you begin to understand your hellish life, highlighted by a few moments of fleeting happiness, is generally in need of blessing. I mean, we do try to compare ourselves with the sap sitting next to us, not knowing their lives are as miserable as our own. But despite this appearance, Jesus says we are blessed. Not only are we blessed, but we have an obligation to “let our light shine before others.” We may not feel it all the time, but we have a “light” to offer other people. By “light,” I don’t just mean our lackluster faith in God to pull us through a crisis; I mean the story God allows us to tell other people because we’re alive to tell it. But it’s not just the story, it’s the stuff you did, in partnership with God or by divine intervention, to bring your story life. Your survival in life is your work and the epitome of being blessed. You were made specifically for this purpose. You are where you are because your life is and undoubtedly will shine God’s light on other people. Don’t hide your life in shame. Don’t crawl under the rock of pity. You have a bright light in Jesus’ name and it is time for you to let that light shine.