Bright Lights Don’t Need Spotlights

Have you ever noticed that reality TV shows have to continuously make up chaotic stories to air? They stay relevant by kicking people off and bringing new ones in when they no longer bring views. Sometimes we can make the mistake of doing the same thing. We constantly look for validation from the things we have. If our iPhone is not the latest technology, we upgrade to a new one. If our car is not top notch, we hope we can someday afford something maybe foreign or shinier. If the people around us become broken or embarrassing, we start distancing ourselves to “save face”. We always try to look okay in case we are ever in the spotlight. However, bright lights don’t need spotlights. My goal is to be a bright light instead of needing validation from others or seeking the next thing that will put me in the spotlight. Think about it. We feel great when we commit a good deed. We love the T-shirt’s we earn for donating blood, the packets we get for sponsoring children in poverty stricken countries, and pat ourselves on the back for putting money in the collection plate. Instead of seeking the validation, we should remember that good deeds cannot be traded for grace. When I think about the “bright lights” in my life, I do not see their acts as a longing for validation. Instead, I see them shining. I see their selfless acts as evidence of their faith. Once we start striving to become a “bright light”, we start to reap the rewards of loving others. Instead of temporary validation from the spotlight, we can start to see others on their own journey and love them for where they stand.