Let Your Light Shine!

As I'm in my third day of blogging, I'm already starting to worry about how I'm going to have enough interesting things happen to be able to post a worthy picture each day!  I just keep thinking, I can only take so many picture of my astronomy homework and the temperature to show how miserable it makes going to night lab.  However, inspiration is proving to show up in unexpected places!

Here in Oxford, I live with two girls, both of whom I did not know previously.  I consider myself very blessed to have been so fortunate to have been placed with girls that are respectful, clean, and kind.  However, there is a culture difference/barrier in my apartment.  One of my roommates is from Africa.  This is so exciting to me! I have learned so much from her about her culture and her language and even her food!  It isn't necessarily my "cup of tea" so to speak, but its been so fascinating each and every day.  

Earlier today, around lunch time we did hit a bump in the road, one that is quite frequent actually.  Our kitchen sometimes doesn't smell very wonderful to the two Americans in the apartment.  So, like always when this happens, my other roommate pulls out incense and burns it in various places throughout the apartment.  I just have to sit back and giggle because its quite comical to me seeing as she does this once the common area has been vacated. (It's almost secretive)  Needless to say, it gives me much needed entertainment throughout my stay here in this specific apartment.  

The thing about incense is it has to be lit in order to let off the desired aroma thus making the apartment, or any area for that matter, smell like you want it to.  This thought brought about another thought.  When you light incense or a candle,  there is a light that shines and can be seen in the darkness. (You're probably thinking, "Where is she going with this?")  I put all of this together when I received a text message from a very good friend when heading out of the door to my Astronomy lecture of the day.  (Hence the picture of a text message).  

At the end of the message he said "Shine for Dad!"  No, he didn't mean shine for your father, Mark, he meant shine for THE Father, God.  This made me think.  How often do we forget to do that? How often do we go on with our day and continue on with the monotony of our lives only to forget that there is something greater? What if instead of just going with the flow, we went with the flow with our lights shining bright in today's darkness! I do think the world would be a much better place.

So there are two things that I took out of my experiences today:

1. Never miss an opportunity to brighten someone's day!  You never know when someone is down and is struggling.  So text or call a friend and wish them a happy day and if you're around them, give them a hug! Let them know that you care; it makes all the difference in the world!
2. Let your light shine!  Even in the darkest parts of your day (and I don't mean only after the sun sets)  Show the world why you're here and WHO we are all here for.  Never miss an opportunity to shine for your Creator.

Now with those thoughts voiced and pictures uploaded, its time to study, heat up some left overs from new years, and get to star-gazing. :)