Sunday was an especially emotional day for me. The Cemetery in which my Mother is buried holds a special Candlelight service the First Sunday in December of each year. The Cemetery personnel place small, single candles in front of each grave marker in the Cemetery. Then, at a designated time, all the candles are lit. It is truly a sight to see.
Leading up to the event is quite special. Cars arrive to the Cemetery by the dozens. As each car enters and parks in the Cemetery, you can’t help but wonder about the different stories and loved ones that are represented. What kind of life did they lead? How did they pass away? What family do they have remaining? Were they Christian, or non-Christian?
It was a particularly cold night, at least by Georgia standards, in the low 20’s. We were told that we should all light our respective candles precisely at 5:30 PM, just at the brink of dusk. As people arrived, you could see the hundreds of people walking to the various sites of their particular loved ones. You could see families standing around gravesides holding hands. You saw others sitting in folding chairs near their family member or friends graveside. Despite all the different stories and all the different families that were all represented, we all had one thing in common at that particular time and that was to remember and celebrate the life of a particular loved one; Mom in my case.
At precisely 5:30, you could see the first candle being lit. Then another. Then, yet another. Slowly, but surely, the entire Cemetery was a-glow with the beautifully lit candles. Not one candle on it’s own would be noticeable, but all the hundreds of candles together united in a symphony of lite that was even observant in surrounding neighborhoods and streets.
There are a lot of Christian analogy’s I could use for this story, but let me take you down this journey. Speaking from experience, I know that there are times in my life that I have felt totally insignificant. Useless, and unworthy for God’s service, in my opinion. I had no special skills. I am not a great speaker. I don’t have a lot of money. I don’t have multiple degrees. How was God going to use an insignificant person like me?
Maybe you’ve felt the same way at times? I’ve learned over the years that nothing is insignificant in God’s eyes. What may be totally insignificant in your eyes is wonderful in God’s eyes. Instead of dwelling on what I didn’t have, I began focusing on what I did have. I could certainly smile and be friendly to others, couldn’t I? I could certainly be a friend to someone in need, couldn’t I? I could even write a small “I’m Thinking of You” Note to a friend. I could pray for someone in need. I could just listen to a close friend pour his or her heart out and let them know I care. I could live my life by example so that others could see Christ’s Love through me. I learned that these small things that I can do are really not insignificant, in God’s eyes, especially if you realize that we are the Body of Christ. If I do a little and you do a little and someone else does a little, it all of a sudden becomes larger than what I could do on my on.
Just like Sunday at the Candlelight service, the one, insignificant Candle had little affect. But, in union with hundreds of others, it was more powerful than one could imagine.
Are you feeling insignificant in God’s service? If so, don’t lose site of the fact that you are an important part of God’s overall plan and, together with other Christians, YOU can make a difference.
