Light shining in the darkness

Today is Halloween.  It is a day when the world celebrates darkness and evil.  As children of the light, and of our Heavenly Father, of course, we have an opportunity to be light in the darkness today and every other day of the year.

Two days ago, Dale Drury, one of our elders here at College church of Christ, lit a candle in my darkness without even knowing he had done so. 

I was sitting with Peter, our 24-year-old son, in a Fresno County Superior Court room, waiting for the judge to dismiss the case because Peter had fulfilled all the requirements of his sentence.  It was the consequence of foolish and sinful behavior on his part and the part of other people. 

This is not the dream a mother has when she holds her baby for the first time in the hospital or when she stands in front of the church to have his life dedicated to the Lord, or when she teaches him his first Bible verse and prays with him as she tucks him into bed at night.  If she pictures herself in a courtroom with her adult son, she sees him as the well-dressed attorney or the robed judge, not as the defendant.

"This is a lab class for my study of the book of James," I thought to myself as I sat on the hard wooden bench. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4 (New International Version)

I had brought my Bible and the prior week's church bulletin into the courtroom with me.  While the judge dealt with other cases, I opened the bulletin and read these words from our elder, Dale Drury:

"We, at the College Church of Christ are on a journey which encourages unity in Christ.  We're seeking to be a relational church who is concerned about being Jesus; not only to each other, but to those we come in contact with each day.  As I thought more about this, our 'narrative', which we completed last year came to mind.  It clearly reflects this journey as part of our history.

"We are being Jesus and encouraging unity when we welcome people/Christians who:
...struggle with sin every day, regardless of the sin;
...were cast out by 'Christians' because of life choices they have made;
...are seeking a 'safe' place to experience God;
And this list could go on and on.

"ALL of these actions lead us toward unity in the body of Christ and reflect the love from the Father.  How do the people around us interpret the evidences they experience in our lives?

"May God bless us as the people around us are able to experience Jesus through us!"

Thank you, Dale Drury, and all those at College church of Christ who are a light in the darkness for people like Peter and me, sitting in a Fresno County Superior Court room!
--Posted by Mama O.
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