I invited our consistory members to prayerfully consider if they would be willing to contribute a letter to the church during the season of Lent. Today’s letters comes from our beloved elder, Kylee Duistermars…
Dear Rose Park,
A few weeks ago, Graham’s third grade teacher, Ms. Hossink, reached out and asked for my help in planning a surprise for her students at Rose Park Elementary. She wanted to have a ‘Glow Day.’ ‘What’s a Glow Day?’ I asked, hoping it had nothing to do with making slime! And ‘how does this work at school where it’s not dark?’ With a little Pinterest searching and some googling, we not only found answers to these questions, but had more ideas than what we could fit into just one day; think 1980’s, neon paint, tape and black lights!
In the midst of planning for this, I have to be honest, I wasn’t very excited. I was doing it because I felt like I should help my son’s class. I wasn’t planning with a heart of cheer, but of obligation. I was going through the motions. I felt grumpy and gloomy. I felt dark and cold; certainly not bright and full of light about any of it.
And then Glow Day finally came. I walked into Graham’s class with the best smile that I could muster up. Ms. Hossink had a t-shirt for each kiddo and each mom that helped out which read “Let your LIGHT shine”. During morning worship and devotion time, Graham’s class sang “This little light of mine” and talked about how sometimes the best way you can spread Jesus’ love is simply by letting your light shine. When we turned off the main lights in the classroom, (and once our eyes adjusted) you could see all kinds of things glowing. Spelling words painted with glow in the dark paint suddenly popped out, math facts written with secret ink suddenly appeared, and the t-shirts with neon words came alive. Even in the darkness the entire room was shining!
In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus tells us “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
At that moment, the four words that were on my shirt struck me and stopped me in my tracks. “Let your LIGHT shine.” Suddenly, my previous dark visions - doctors appointments that didn’t go the way I had hoped for, calendar dates filling faster than I can keep up with, trying to explain world events to my children that even I don’t understand… in all that darkness, I suddenly saw a glow. And right in front of me, I saw 16 third graders smiling and laughing. I also thought about Deb Kammeraad shining on Wednesday nights at the Family Table, I thought about Jack Hartman and Jim Boeve making my dad laugh soon after having a procedure at the hospital. I saw beautiful, glowing light in all the darkness.
God didn’t tell us that when we follow Him we won’t have darkness - but He did tell us that “when we have trouble, take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). When we have darkness, He IS with us. We just need to look closer at our surroundings, as He is often shining through those around us.
Shine On,
Kylee