"All things came to be through him"

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:3-5

Having God in my life is good.  There is no doubt about this, but there are other good things in my life; my husband, my son, friendships, travels, my job and so many more.  Some of these don't seem to be related to God but these verses tell us otherwise.  These verses remind us that "All things came to be through Him".  Not only should we thank God for these gifts in our lives  but we should use these gifts to bring his light to the world.

These verses challenge me to think about how I can use what God has given me to bring life and light to the world.  I think about my job as a public school teacher.  I spend my time at work doing work that I love but is not outwardly serving God.

How does this work bring life and light to the world?

I can treat my students with love and respect.  I can great them with a smile and listen to their thoughts and ideas.  I can value them as a person and remind them that they can talk to me in times of trouble.  I can bring some light into their lives and teach them how to do the same in their lives.  I have to remember that as I go about my day I should be doing so much more than simply what is required in my contract.  My focus should be beyond common core and standards.  As a Christian my focus should be on bringing life and light to the world.  

The best advice

Think about the best advice that you have ever been given.  I can think of a lot good advice that I have been given.  I can also think of a lot of very bad advice that I have been given.  But that's all another story.  

This is about the absolute best advice that I have been given.  This is the kind of advice that you don't have to double think or wonder if it will lead you in the wrong direction.  This is the kind of perfect, all around advice.

Photo Source

Who does this advice come from?  Our Mother Mary.  She gives us the ultimate advice.  "Do whatever he tells you."  And of course the he that she is referring to is Jesus.  She tells this to the severs at the wedding at Cana in the second chapter of the Gospel of John.  They have run out of wine.  She has informed her son of the problem.  She does not know what (if anything) Jesus is going to do but she knows that the best thing that the severs can do to solve this problem that they are facing is to listen to Jesus. "Do whatever he tells you."

This was good advice at the time just as it is good advice to us today.  What ever problems we are facing.  What ever difficulties we come across.  What ever questions or anxieties we have. Just follow Mary's advice "Do whatever he tells you."  How simple it is but how hard it is to do.

How can we better follow this advice?