Salt & Light

Matthew 5:13-16 (Today's New International Version)
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We are the salt of the earth. I've heard this my whole life and wondered how can I be salt? What is it I am supposed to do? We are the light of the world, this is another verse I have heard my whole life. How do I light my world? Many have given me their interpretations. Many have offered their ideas of how this is supposed to look, but I still wonder, how will it look in my life? As I have lived my life, I have had many experiences. Some of those experiences have been good and some have been bad, but my desire to pursue a relationship with God has been a constant. There have been times I have wanted to throw in the proverbial towel and hide from the world, but my desire to change the world, make a difference, leave my mark for God has remained. I wonder if this is how I am a light. No matter what happens, no matter what I face, my desire to glorify God always seems to triumph over my desire to become bitter. My desire to serve my Father overrides my desire to quit. Maybe that is how I remain a light. Maybe that is how I add salt to this world. It isn't in the things I do, it is in my refusal to quit. My refusal to let my love for God die is what I offer the world.
I've always liked a song called "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba. "I get knocked down, but I get up again. You're not ever going to keep me down." Now, I realize they are talking about drinking the night away, but their chant is one that runs through my mind in those moments when I consider accepting defeat as a way of life. And somehow it compels me to get back up and try again. As I bring this post to a close I'm adding a story I once heard that inspires me. I hope it inspires you as well.

"Quit! Give up! You're beaten!"
They shout at me and plead.
"There's just too much against you now. This time you can't succeed!"
And as I start to hang my head In front of failure's face.
My downward fall is broken by The memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will As I recall that scene:
For just the thought of that short race Rejuvenates my being.
A children's race-young boys, young men-how I remember well.
Excitement, sure! But also fear; It wasn't hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that, At least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad That he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went! Young hearts and hopes afire.
To win and be the hero there Was each young boy's desire.
And one boy in particular Whose dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought: "My dad will be so proud!"
But as they speeded down the field Across a shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win Lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself His hands flew out to brace,
And mid the laughter of the crowd He fell flat on his face.
So down he fell and with him hope --He couldn't win it now--
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished To disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up And showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said: "Get up and win the race."
He quickly rose, no damage done, --Behind a bit, that's all--
And ran with all his mind and might To make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself --To catch up and to win--
His mind went faster than his legs: He slipped and fell again!
He wished then he had quit before With only one disgrace.
"I'm hopeless as a runner now; I shouldn't try to race."
But in the laughing crowd he searched And found his father's face:
That steady look which said again: "Get up and win the race!"
So up he jumped to try again --Ten yards behind the last--
"If I'm to gain those yards," he thought "I've got to move real fast."
Exerting everything he had He regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead He slipped and fell again!
Defeat! He lied there silently --A tear dropped from his eye--
"There's no sense running any more; Three strikes: I'm out! Why try?"
The will to rise had disappeared; All hope had fled away;
So far behind, so error prone; A loser all the way.
"I've lost, so what's the use," he thought. "I'll live with my
disgrace."
But then he thought about his dad Who soon he'd have to face.
"Get up," an echo sounded low. "Get up and take your place;
You were not meant for failure here. Get up and win the race."
"With borrowed will get up," it said, "You haven't lost at all.
For winning is no more than this: To rise each time you fall."
So up he rose to run once more, And with a new commit
He resolved that win or lose At least he wouldn't quit.
So far behind the others now, --The most he'd ever been--
Still he gave it all he had And ran as though to win.
Three times he'd fallen, stumbling; Three times he rose again;
Too far behind to hope to win He still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner As he crossed the line first place;
Head high, and proud, and happy; No falling, no disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer For finishing the race.
And even though he came in last With head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he'd won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, "I didn't do too well."
"To me, you won," his father said. "You rose each time you fell."
Now when things seem dark and hard And difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy Helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race, With ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win, Is rise each time you fall.
"Quit! Give up! You're beaten!" They still shout in my face.
But another voice with me says: "GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!"