Be a Bent Lamppost

A couple weeks ago, as I drove to work I noticed this lamppost at a local gas station. I wasn't in the best location while stopped at the light to take a photo, and I hoped they wouldn't fix the lamppost before I had a chance to get the shot. I might have even prayed that it wouldn't be. Okay, I did pray it wouldn't be. Thankfully the next week, I was in the right spot for a photo. I rolled down my window and took it.

Why? Well, when I saw that lamppost the first time I heard God speak to me. I heard Him say, "be like a bent lamppost."

You might think I questioned why, but I know instantly. See I have driven by this same lamppost for years and I have never noticed it. In it's upright position I simply took it for granted. But in this obviously, a-car-hit-me-hard position I saw it for what it was. I saw that even bent over and barely clinging to its base it was still shinning. Not only that but look how the grass is lit up. Look at how wide and bright the light is. It's not even all in the photo. God told me in that moment that the bent and bruised and broken of us can still shine His Light. Our struggles make others take notice of us. He can shine through a upright lamppost, but unless you need it, you ignore it. He can shine so much brighter and wider when we are bent.

The below photo I took today, and I'll admit it's not great. I wasn't in the right spot and it was misting so I didn't want to roll down the window. But I knew today was the day to write this post, and I needed this photo to do it.

This is the replacement lamppost. Notice it is standing upright and shinning its light. But look at the ground under it. It is not nearly as bright as with its bent predecessor. Not only is it not as bright, its range is much smaller. Standing there lighting the parking lot and no one, except me, probably even notices it.

God wants to shine His Light through our lives. He will use the upright among us and some people will be able to see Him from them. But He really wants to use the bent among us. His Light is so much brighter and wider, and people can't help but notice us. They'll be amazed that we can still shine, just as I was amazed that the lamppost could still shine in its condition.

Let Him use you to shine through. Let Him take your brokenness and show His beautiful Light to others. Let Him spread the Light wide as you wait to be repaired. It isn't easy to go through the struggles we do. It feels like we are barely clinging on. But let others see the struggle and ultimately see His Light.

Hard, Brittle, Breakage

The other day I was standing, for far too long, in the hair dye aisle in Target. I had pulled out the flap from the box of color I use to find it again, and sure enough they didn't have it. I was looking for something comparable, and getting frustrated with the lack of choices. What's a redheaded girl to do when the options are only orange and flaming red!? I was about to give up when a teenage girl came down the aisle to check on hair spray.

She went over to the brand she wanted and turned away in teenage disgust and marched back to her mother. "It is soooo expensive!" she moaned. "It costs $20!" I think she really wanted to stomp her foot! I use the same brand for conditioner, so I wasn't surprised by the price tag.

Her mother said, "I can bring you some from the salon."

Unintelligible response from her daughter.

"Besides," the mother continued, "that kind is very hard."

"I like it hard!" the teen shot back.

As calmly as I've heard a parent of a teen respond, "But if it's too hard it makes your hair brittle. And if your hair is brittle that will cause breakage."

Teenage daughter humps off.

I decided that flaming red was not going to be my new hair color, so I left the aisle to continue my shopping. The conversation stuck in my head, and when I got back in the car I felt God speaking to me. I felt Him say that's what He says to me at times. I tell Him what I want or how I want it done, and He responds.

"But that way is hard."

"That's what I want!"

"If it is hard it will make you brittle."

"So!"

"Brittleness brings breakage."

"I still want it my way!"

"Okay, you can have it your way, but My way is soft. It makes you pliable. It brings you healing and comfort."

The sad thing is too often I don't listen and do it my way anyway! I want to come to a place where I hear Him say that my way is hard, and choose His way instead. I am a work in progress, and I hope that progress leads me to His place of softness, pliability, healing and comfort.