Ramblings for Kirwan Uniting Church Keep in Touch pew sheet 23 June 2019

You know those social media quizzes which show a photo of an item from the 1950s (or a bit later or earlier), and ask “‘Like’ if you remember what this is”?  One recently had a sort of small inverted tin just to the left of a clutch pedal. I’m sad to say that I recognised it straightaway as the foot-operated switch to dip your headlight main beam. I think the last car I had with that switch was a 1965 minivan. And it came to mind when the passenger side low beam bulb went on Leisa’s car while I was down last week. Our property is at the end of a 9km long winding (cue the Beatles)  unlit lane, so you need good lights on a car. With a dip bulb out, oncoming vehicles might think you’re a motorbike. But with high beam on, oncoming vehicles are dazzled. You see, car lights are not only to help you see the road but also to help other motorists see you.

Straight after the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus tells his disciples (vv14 - 16) “You are the light of the world. A town built 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.” It’s not enough just to work on dazzling onlookers with our holiness and bible-bashing. There has to be a purpose, an end, to our testimony, that our heavenly Father is glorified. If He’s not, if it’s only us that we’re drawing attention to with our light show, then we need to fix that broken bulb so that people see Jesus.