“Betty” called me all in a tizzy. She is my neighbor and is in ever failing health, as a widow she lives alone. She seemed all upset and urgency in her voice and I quickly asked if she was okay. She said she was fine, but wanted me to come over and change her garage light bulb! She needs that to be able to see in her garage, she reminded me (she has no car it’s a living area, laundry, etc.). In fact, she said I would need to go to Dollar General and buy her a certain type of bulb which she went on to describe as a three-way bulb. And I would need to bring my ladder. When I asked if she had a three-way switch she said “No!”. So I talked her into a high wattage bulb I had and went over.
While over in her garage I asked about her health which I always do. She deflected that saying she was okay but she was worried about a friend of hers who was losing her eyesight with a husband dying of Parkinson’s. It just hit me that here is my neighbor with her own health issues worried about somebody else. “Betty” went on to say that her grandson was going to take her over to see her friend and they were going to take some food so the friend could have Thanksgiving. Since the friend couldn’t see “Betty” was going to help cook and prepare.
I am convinced that God’s call on our lives is to love and serve our neighbor. In what we call the Great Commandment Jesus says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30). This week as we make our plans, join family and friends, remember in prayer; and perhaps in deed/donation, those who are without. It’s a dark and lonely world for many, and perhaps our call is to shine like a “high wattage” bulb into that darkness. I know the dark always gives way to light, just flip the switch!
A Blessed Thanksgiving to all of you! “May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord look upon you with favor, may the Lord shine upon you and be gracious to you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24)
Eric is our current Webmaster and works on the NLS Communications Team. Raised in Judaism, he found Christ and the New Testament at age 16 in a Southern Baptist Church. He searched many denominations for the real church, only to find the Holy Spirit is present in all of them. He's worked for One for Israel, a group of native Israeli believers who are sharing the gospel in the holy land in Hebrew and is part of the only Hebrew speaking seminary in Israel.
