Month: May 2023

Parable of the Bubble Lights

Jeanne Leave a comment

Each Christmas season I eagerly anticipate the tradition of displaying the strings of bubble lights onto the Christmas tree. I meticulously attach each bulb in a space appropriately large and dark enough for them to be gloriously illuminated by the yellow, red or green bulb beneath the tube of liquid. Each one seems to shout from the darkened branches, but the real glory is the tube of colored liquid above the bulb that spritely bubbles as it is heated from below. The silent movement of the bubbles gives the whole tree a magical lively aura.

Over time, some light do not spontaneously bubble. This is troubling. I have discovered that, using a plastic spoon, a gentle (very gentle) tap on the top of the glass tube usually provides the sufficient disturbance to incite bubbling again.

On one occasion, with spoon in hand, I hunted for the un-bubbling lights and in my mind, I coaxed them, encouraged them to respond, reminding them that they were beloved and glorious, and, those who did not bubble WERE MEANT FOR GREATER THINGS! At that very thought, I was forcefully impressed with the thought of God gently tapping me in my occasional apathetic state, reminding me that I AM MEANT FOR GREATER THINGS.

Perhaps Jesus Christ thought something like that when he called fishermen to follow Him. He saw their light and knew that it could be more glorious.

As I was watching a Youtube scripture study (Don’t Miss This, Matthew 14), the presenters spoke of the parables of Jesus and challenged us to write a parable of our own, and, hence, I post the Parable of the Bubble Lights, as it was impressed upon me Christmas of 2021. Now, whenever I see a bubble light, I wonder if I don’t need a tap on the head to make me sparkle too! (By the way, don’t take my advise about tapping the top of the tubes because the liquid inside is not environmentally friendly if the tube might break and spread the liquid all over the room. Seriously, that does happen.)

Check out the Youtube mentioned above for some great insights into the New Testament. Also, as I always suggest, check out the website churchofjesuschrist.org for a plethora of videos, thoughts, articles and messages, all posted there to uplift, comfort and challenge us all.

Reaching….

Jeanne Leave a comment

Many recent church speeches have been based on the thought, that, to God, we are enough. Obviously there are many of us who put ourselves down because we feel that we don’t measure up to our expectations. We feel unworthy of God’s attention and love, and, in consequence, we stop looking for, or expecting it, and fail to see it in our lives, which only leads to more self-negative feelings.

It is certainly true that we all should see and feel the love of God, and ought to know that simply by the fact that we are his children, we are loved and cared for. So, sometimes we need a stern reminder of those truths.

However; be careful. If we really think that we’ve already passed the test, we might fool ourselves into thinking that because we’re enough, we can slacken on reaching and trying. I have found that the most profound joy will come from our intense stretching, and stepping out of our comfort zone, rather than sitting back and thinking that it’s enough already.

It is through our reaching out and stretching and pleading and trying again and again that we achieve, Like the caterpillar who chooses the scary chrysalis and eventually emerges as that glorious winged creature who has ever-the-much more capability, opportunity, and joy.

So, if you need to clothe yourself with God’s love. Do it. Learn of him. Pray. Ask. Listen. Just don’t ever tell yourself that he is not interested in you. Look for his love in your life. The reaching will be well worth it, again and again. Be patient on those dark chrysalis days. It will pass. Ask for strength. It always comes in some form or another, usually in unexpected ways.