There has been much debate regarding Pope Leo’s statements regarding how people treat each other. Some feel he has no right to comment on what might be considered political or social issues. Those who resent having their parades of selfishness, ego, and control rained on are always quick to find fault with anything having to do with how faith looks in action. And yet, Jesus calls all who truly believe to let His light shine. That leads to an example of one man that has touched me in how in a very simple and quiet way he went about letting Jesus’ light shine in his life. And doing so changed more lives than one might imagine.
One of the most cheerful and loving guys I have ever known died this week. He was a principal, husband, and father, as well as being a shining beacon of Christ’s love in every life he touched. He taught in difficult public school settings. He was a principal of one of those schools, when many with his years in the classroom would have preferred a more lucrative and easier role rather than to continue to spend time in the trenches. One example of his parenting gives a clue as to how he found simple ways to let Christ’s love shine in his life.
When I became his pastor, his three daughters were grown. Two were married and the youngest was in college. He and his wife were always happy, supportive, and loved by all who knew them. (And always will be!) But one action went above and beyond what I had ever even considered for my own children, but showed how he put faith, hope, and love into action. Every week he handwrote a letter to each daughter! I don’t know how or why he started that or how many years it continued but to think of all he had on his plate and he still took time to write loving letters to his children every week blew me away. His wife was responsible for beginning our preschool and served many years as teacher and role model for many of our children. Now that they are reunited in heavenly peace, their earthly ups and downs are over, but their shining example of servant love will never be forgotten. Their daughters have been incredible gifts to their families and everyone they ever touched has grown in our own ways of living because of how he allowed the love of Jesus to shine in practical and daily ways.
You see it is one thing to say are people of faith, but putting those words into concrete action is where the rubber truly meets the road! This gentle man, like a gentle pope and millions of others, understood faith is a verb and not a noun. If anyone in our world finds that offensive it is simply a reminder we have to keep letting Jesus’ light shine, especially for the sake of those who allow (or enjoy) darkness to cloud their living. We must never be afraid to let Jesus’ light shine, as that allows his faith, hope, and love, to touch lives that others might never touch.