Life Through the Lens: Love is like a kerosene lamp
In his weekly Christian column, Kevin Schrapel remembers the hurricane lanterns his family used back on the farm.
This post was contributed by Kevin Schrapel, and is the author’s personal opinion.
When I was a kid on the farm, we used kerosene hurricane lanterns for most of our lighting.
Recently, when in reference to a character in a movie, I heard the words “it’s like love soaks up into you”.
For some reason I thought of those old lanterns.
They were called “hurricane” because, no matter how fierce the weather, they would seldom be blown out.
They worked on the soak-up method, and are still available to buy online.
Kerosene is filled into a container at the bottom of the lantern.
On top of the container is a cog mechanism through which a material wick passes.
When the wick has soaked up kerosene, it is lit, and the brightness of the flame is controlled by raising or lowering the wick; a glass gives shelter from the wind, and the light pushes back the darkness.
Holiday homes sit vacant through most of the year while families sleep in cars.
School children send hate messages instead of texts and messages of friendship.
Relationships slowly fall apart through disinterest or are shattered by violence.
In many cases, apathy appears to have become the default emotion.
Ask almost anyone and you will get ready agreement that we are living in a world with lots of darkness.
Not total darkness, but more than enough.
However, turn on a light and what happens to the darkness?
But light needs a power source.
Into this world, a God of love comes to us and says, “here, let me pour my love into you; soak it up.”
“Let my love and passion guide your thoughts and actions.
“Let my spirit of love and compassion shine from within you.”
His words in the Bible explain how that soaked-up light of love can shine out from you: “love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude; it does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).
Fortunately, God not only tells us how to love and be compassionate, he sent his son Jesus to show us how, even to the point of death, so everyone can experience the soaking up of God’s tremendous and forgiving love (John 3:16).
Try talking to God about filling you with his love.
Then continue the conversation about where he might like you to shine that love.
You might be surprised at the outcome.
It’s not so hard: fill, soak, light, shine.
Have a great life.
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