A Crystal Vase or a Window Pane
The beauty of cut crystal throwing prisms of color from bright sunlight has always mesmerized me. In fact, I stood in awe at the beauty of a crystal collection that was beautifully displayed in my local museum. The collection had taken years for the owner to collect and had been donated for the pleasure of visitors after her death.
This morning I was listening to the Gaither Vocal Band singing the song “I Then Shall Live”. The words were displayed on the screen so the viewers/listeners could sing along. I did try to sing with them, but tears and sobs were the most prominent sound coming from my throat.
The line that shot straight to my heart was: “Your Kingdom come around and through and in me. Your power and glory, let them shine through me.” The other words in the song are equally meaningful, but this morning those particular words were a message to my heart.
I thought of the beautiful cut crystal. Although it was a joy to behold as a vase or container, it wouldn’t make a very good window. As I heard the words about letting the Lord shine through me, I thought of how I clean the windows of my patio door so that I can get a clear view of the countryside. Cut crystal would distort and obscure the view. Only a smooth pane of glass will do for that use.
Contemplating this thought, I thought of how we Christians are to be a window to the world to show them Jesus. I wondered if I had so decorated myself so that the lost can’t see Jesus through me. God, forgive me. What they need is a clear representation of the Lord to reflect the glory and power of our God.
The thing about window glass is that we don’t really notice it unless it is dirty. We are glad it is there in the wall to open up the view to us, but it is not what we see. We look through it. I don’t want to be a decoration in a museum. I want to be a window, clean and clear, that isn’t even noticed except to be an opening to see the Lord.
Elaine Littau
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