...fireflies

Western society is based on external appearances. We each judge others on what they look like, stereotypes kick in and this happens almost subconsciously.

We align ourselves with others who are similar, similar backgrounds, similar views and even similar in appearance. This is especially applicable within our teenage years – kids morph into each other, with the outward appearance being almost identical. It’s easy to think this is just a youth phenomenon but actually within the work place we adults also feel the need to fit in and look the part.

Grey suits in the city, corporate polyester suits behind the desks of high street banks and an alternative look with anything charity orientated.

At some point during my teen years I became aware that actually I had my own views, opinions, style and God ordained sense of individuality. Different from friends and more amazingly different from the views and opinions my parents had brought me up with. That can be hard.

But from my pre-teen years I felt a real sense of God within me. However, I also had the desire to remain ‘cool’, as I felt belief in God would appear less than ‘cool’. If I could look ‘normal’ on the outside then that might help others find God too??

But something different had to shine through that would help others see God within me.

I was reminded of that thought and feeling this morning, as I gazed outside at a bunch of tiny flies hovering together in my garden. It reminded me of the song ‘Fireflies’.

Fireflies are attractive to others by the chemicals produced within their abdomen. Glowing yellow, green or pale red. No matter the colour it makes those observing see that the interior of the firefly is as important as the exterior. What is inside is as important as what is on the outside.

There are many individuals within the bible who God shines through. People who don’t naturally fit in. Like the woman in Luke Chapter 7 who is unafraid to approach Jesus and cleanse and anoint his feet with perfume.

I wonder how God shines through each of us as believers. What do others see in us that can help attract them to God? Something about who we are, unspoken, shiny and special just like fireflies. Fireflies have the ability to be attractive, to fascinate whilst being impossible to ignore.

I know that I am not perfect, just as fireflies vary and glow with a different intensity and colour. God shines out of me as a broken and imperfect person.

I love being a firefly…what about you…?