7/20/15 Asbury Camp and Retreat Center
Evening Campfire Reflection
Joshua Barrett
Jesus said “You
are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after
lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it
gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in
heaven” (Matthew 5-14:16)
I want you to
take a moment and look at the flames before you right now. Go ahead…. Now
look at my phone’s LED light…. Notice some difference. Now, as I continue to
speak, keep your eyes on the fire till I ask otherwise.
Watch the
flames dance as they jump and twirl and waltz around. Soak in the visual and
radiant warmth this ember glow gives. Even at the center of these flames, there
is some shadow, isn’t there? Light and dark. The seen, and hidden. Revelation
and mystery.
Okay now you
can stop looking at the fire.
I want to talk
to you guys (and gals) about light this evening. When I asked you to look at
the fire, I hope you actually thought about it. It is quite a different light
than the one that we use on our cell phones, or we use indoors. Flame looks and
feels more genuine and authentic. It doesn’t feel so cold and sterile like the
LED lights. The LED light almost felt harsh, and offensive, compared to the
light we have from the fire. Author John Donahue thought that “Flame is earth’s
light, it is the light most friendly to the soul, it is soul light”. I think he
is onto some great thought here. We should seek a genuine light of the soul.
Have you
noticed that people tend to open up when they are around a fire or in
candlelight? I have personally experienced sitting around a fire late at night,
our first night together, with a huge group of campers at my childhood summer
camp. There was 20 of us, all around 17 years old. I couldn’t see their faces,
they were veiled in shadow, but the flames lit up our silhouettes just enough
to determine the thing we were talking to was human or not. That mix of
revelation and mystery to one another gave us the chance to open up our genuine
selves, in a genuine light. I will never forget that night or the connections I
made to those veiled people, whom later became some of my closest friends that
week. I still don’t know exactly who in that group I talked to that night, but
I do know, we were shining on our hill.
Jesus names us
as lights, in the shining context of our service to others. But we must be
careful to not serve with our LED light. Jesus wants us to shine our authentic
lights like a flame, bright and open. Open to God and open to one another. To
serve those we are helping this week in our LED light would be unauthentic. But
to serve with the flame that God gives us, our wonderful individual lights, can
warm those around us, including those we serve this week.
Yesterday, we
discussed with Bethany what service means. We heard how Jesus makes himself one
with those in need. Jesus’s earthly ministry was soaked in the upmost
importance in concern for those who need assistance or help, and upholding the
dignity of everyone. In serving others, we serve Christ himself. Those good
works we do this week, should shine with our flame. We might get tired, we
might get sunburned, we might even get a few paint stained shorts or shirts by
the end. Know that what we do matters. It matters to this group, it matters to
those who we serve and it matters to God. I encourage you to shine. I also
encourage to let your true light, your true authentic flame shine, in this
sacred space here at Asbury. Amen.
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