Little ...

Little Mirrors

Robert Fulghum, in his book, It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It, tells how he found purpose in life. Fulghum, a former Episcopal priest, took a course on Greek culture at an Orthodox retreat center on the Island of Crete. A man named Alexander Papaderos built the center. After World War II Papaderos became disturbed by the hatred his people still had for the Germans. So he built a meeting place where people could come to make peace, to talk, and try to understand one another. He built the center on the site where Nazi soldiers had brutally murdered thousands of Cretan civilians. For years, people had come from all over the world to share in the love and grace of Dr. Papaderos and to learn a better way.

At the end of this particular seminar, Dr. Papaderos always made his closing comment: “Are there any questions?”

Fulghum raised his hand and asked, “Dr. Papaderos, what’s the meaning of life?”

The class chucked, but when Alexander could see that this American writer was serious, he said, “I will answer your question.”

Taking his billfold out of his pocket, he brought out a small round mirror, about the size of a quarter. He told about growing up poor in a small village on Crete. One day during the war, a German motorcycle wrecked near his home, and Alexander picked up a piece of the broken mirror from the motorcycle. He scratched it on a stone to round off the edges, and then began to play with the mirror as a toy. He became fascinated that he could use the mirror to reflect sunlight into places where light would never shine. It became a game to get the light into dark places.

As he grew into a man, Papaderos began to realize that this was more than a child’s game. It was a metaphor for what he wanted to do with his life. He wasn’t the source of the light, but the light was there—the light of truth, understanding, knowledge—and it would only shine in the dark places if he reflected it.

Papaderos said, “I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world – into the black places in the hearts of men – and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”

We know who is our source of light. Our goal is “To shine in dark places.” We find strength for the New Year from Jesus, the Light of the World. Our goal is to reflect the Light of Christ to everyone in our sphere of influence. When surrounded with challenges you can put your trust in the Lord and you will never be disappointed.

From a sermon by Ray Ellis, Finding Strength for the New Year, 12/28/2009