Along the sidewalk and patio at the back of our house are two rows of solar powered lights, mounted on sharply pointed stakes that have been driven into the ground. During the day they soak up energy for the sun and store it. When darkness falls, the lights come on and shine through most of the night and then go off at daylight so they can repeat the cycle. Sometimes the lights are low or do not stay on very long because of less exposure to the sun, but most of the time, they do well, allowing those who walk the path to do so safely.

On occasion the kids will knock into them running by or I'll hit one of them with the garden hose or lawnmower. The stakes holding the lights are firmly in the ground but as a result from getting hit they begin to lean over. Repeated rains as well as drifts of snow and ice have contributed to the lights being pushed over. Walking outside one morning before work while it was still dark recently, I noticed the light at the end of the sidewalk leaning, nearly touching the ground.

As I observed this interesting circumstance, I thought how life sometimes seems to shove us over and we are left "leaning," but our "light" is still shining (Matthew 5:14). These scenarios have crossed my mind since that observation in the early morning hours:

Some people are leaning because economic troubles and disasters have taken a toll on them. They just can't seem to significantly increase their income. They move forward, believing that God will continue to take care of them and provide their necessities as they put him first (Matthew 6:33).

Some people are leaning because of health issues. Whether by accident, disease, or just bad genes, they find themselves struggling physically. Medications and minimal activity seem to be their lot. However, physical illness in a Christian is just an opportunity for God to show his strength in our life (2 Corinthians 12: i0). They move forward, strengthened by God.

Some people find themselves leaning because of old age. They don't stand as tall, jump as high, or run as fast. or do the things they could do when they were young. They move forward, relying on the Bible, which says, "The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair" (Proverbs 20:29).

Some people are leaning because life has beaten them down. The enemy of God has used people and circumstances to wear them down, and to move them to wonder whether it is worth it to go on and remain true to the Lord. They move forward, bruised but determined. They may be struggling, but they are still on the Lord's side. They trust in God's word, which says, "they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 4Q:31).

I write these words thinking of Christians here and abroad that have encouraged me. You encourage me because you have faced these things and yet press on to the heavenly goal. You may have been knocked over, but you remained firmly rooted. You may have been leaning, but your lights still shined. Eric