Flipping on the front porch light

But every good endowment that we possess and every complete gift that we have received must come from above, from the Father of all lights, with whom there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency. By His own wish he made us His own sons through the Word of truth that we might be, so to speak, the first specimens of His new creation. James 1:17-18

Light just is. Some odd mixture of particles and waves that powers the universe. From Him, the One who said, “Let there be light.” All of the shifting and shadows come from our perception, our stuff that runs interference so we don’t see.

And it is He who is at work. To will His good purpose. A new creation. Perfect, even as He is perfect. Therefore, as one trespassed to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.  For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:12-19

We were not made sinners by our disobedience, rather that of Adam (we were born sinners), and we are not saved by our obedience, but by the work of Christ.

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 

This “will be made” is not future tense in Greek, but rather present future tense, the action has already taken place and will continue for eternity.

This complete gift has come from above. The light is to receive what is true and to live and act in that truth.  We are new creatures and we should live like new creatures.

And as I try to wrap words around this silent prayer of mine, maybe this is it. To walk in the light, as He is in the light. With eyes wide open.

Yesterday my Environmental Science class memorized a bunch of facts. Like $23 dollars will provide water for one person for ten years. And every 20 or 30 seconds (depending on the math) a child dies from lack of fresh clean water. And nearly one billion people lack access to clean water.

And then we made a bunch of posters with Bible verses, like Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home, and If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us love not with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.

It’s not about guilt. It’s about the joy of living in the truth. But we are all wearing blue bands to remind us. Because it is easy to forget. To shut our eyes.

So when there is a knock at the door just as we are sitting down to dinner and a cold cut-up and mixed-up O'odham man asks the way to the reservation there is that pause. Blinking in the light. His light.

All he asked for was a glass of water.