The Glow | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Glow | Previous Challenge Entry
By Stephen Kimball
08/20/20
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Voices travel out in the country. I can hear a cow at a hundred yards, as if he were on my front porch. Yep, it’s pretty quiet out here, and usually, by nightfall, everyone is safe inside their homes. So, as I was leisurely walking the dog one evening and humming along with the crickets, it was not hard for me to witness something taking place a couple of doors down that I am still smiling about today.

In the twilight, I could see a young child, maybe five years old, playing in the backyard. A flash of yellowish-green light streaked through the air nearby.

“Oh, my gosh…is that a firefly?” he shouted, as if he had never seen one before. He gazed into the space where the light had appeared and as the beetle made another streak a few feet away, junior was bouncing on his toes, ready for the adventure.

“It IS a firefly!” He confirmed with himself, “And I’m going to catch him!”

As that little tike chased that bug around the yard, his smile was as bright as the moon in the sky. His innocence filled my heart with joy. His happiness and wonder rubbed off on me and all I had to do was be in the right place at the right time and observe. His spirit was radiant and light. I could feel it. It was as attractive as the glow of a thousand fireflies.

Unfortunately, kids can’t stay kids forever. As they mature, the ability to be entranced by the likes of a firefly slowly fades away. With age and experience, the wonder of the world around them begins to dim as the preoccupation with self and often self-preservation becomes primary. Innocence fizzles out while jadedness and cynicism take hold. This has always happened, to a certain extent but, in 21st century America, the fall can be quicker and farther and harder than ever before.

The country is in a sad state and no matter how hard a parent tries, eventually, some of the fear and loathing rubs off on our children. One can only shield the kids for so long before being exposed to the sin of this world, and it can be very discouraging. In this age of social media, sin is on display like never before.

Another interesting phenomenon is that it would seem that we are better connected than ever, yet people are having trouble communicating with others in personal and meaningful ways. Many have given up on real friendship in favor of having hundreds or thousands of “friends” online. My son asked me the other day if I would trade social media for five solid friends and I told him I would jump at the notion. We have taken a giant leap toward isolationism, of late, and that is not healthy.

Fear and isolation are the antithesis of happiness, so it is no wonder so many people carry around those long faces behind their metaphorical (and literal) masks. But happiness raises the soul above the muck of the world. Instead of burying your troubles in mind-bending substances, happiness frees you to overcome them. It is more important than ever to find things that will encourage and lift your spirits and then step up to help others find that as well.

Each of us have different triggers that can bring a smile to our faces. Perhaps a memory of a loved one or a song that takes you back to a better time and place, satisfaction in an accomplishment, or an answered prayer. My list includes snow, a hot tub on a cold night, rollercoasters, peaches, a favorite movie, sunsets, old VW Beetles, giant sunflowers, and any and all Miami Dolphin’s victories (especially over the Patriots).

Most of all, my happy place is in Jesus, where I stand on his foundation of love and purpose and hope for a future. And if that’s your story too, I dare you to find a young person (or anyone) who could use some of that (and they are all around us), and ask them what makes them happy and why. Then sit and listen. Like the little boy down my street, you too will be as attractive as the glow of a thousand fireflies and you may be the conduit that God uses to change someone’s life. At the very least, you are likely to make a friend, a real friend, and that in itself is worth smiling about.

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