Coco Calling No.228 - A Lamp at the Window

My owner and his wife are still rattling on about their recent trip to Norway. And northern Norway is a pretty dark place to be in Wintertime. Up at North Cape, the sun fails to appear above the horizon for two whole months. Humans have to go about their daily ‘busyness’ under a veil of semi-twilight. This could all be rather depressing, especially for a brightly coloured parrot like me, but actually this Winter light is strangely beautiful, especially early and late on in the day when ‘blue’ light dominates, making everything look fresh and new.

And the locals try to cheer up their world by placing lit lamps in their windows. Small lamps which project a message of warmth, comfort and love to the gloomy world around them. And of course, a lamp will always be at its brightest where the darkness is all pervading.

Jesus is often described as being a “light to the world.” He always offered hope and encouragement to everyone he met. And you know, irrespective of the lives that we all lead, there’s nothing to stop us from trying to do the very same. We can all step in to become a shining lamp beside someone who’s suffering or struggling in their life. Just like Jesus, we can offer them a small burst of positive energy at a time when they most need it. And we can achieve that by offering friendship, hope, encouragement and love to friends and strangers alike. Even if it’s through something as simple as a smile. Multiply every little gesture a millionfold, and tiny specks of light will begin to shine out of the darkness all around us, making our world a beautiful place to behold.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

(John: 8:12)

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”

(Matthew 5: 14-16)