Yesterday I visited a local tulip farm (Wicked Tulips Flower Farm in North Kingstown). Friends, my first look at those tulips took my breath away. But, one bed in the display garden struck me as particularly fascinating – it was filled with all purple tulips except one orange and yellow tulip sticking its head far up above the rest.
In Jesus’ “Sermon the Mount,” he enjoins his listeners to be two things: salt and light. “You are the salt of the earth,” he tells them – so stay salty. You are the light of the world – so stay lit.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14).
I think each of us is probably guilty of bemoaning the current state of affairs in our country and world. There is a lot of uncertainty and fear about our own safety and the safety of our immigrant and queer neighbors and siblings. Gas and grocery prices hurt. I’ve seen, as I’m sure you also have, people declaring that what is happening in our world is most certainly a sign that the end is nigh.
I get it. I doomscroll more than I’d like to admit to.
But, what if we thought about the struggles of our age not just as something that deeply troubles us or that predicts even worse times to come, but rather as an opportunity to stand up straight, stand out, and stay lit? What if the hatred we see toward the marginalized is a sign to us to let our faith and our love for others stand out – showing the world that God’s Spirit is still actively working through God’s people in powerful ways?
When we see vitriol spewed against immigrants, we proclaim God’s love for the stranger among us (Deut. 10:12-22). When we see violence directed at trans folx, we proclaim God’s love for us no matter our gender (Galatians 3:23-29). When we see isolation harming people’s health and well-being, we build our community stronger and let others know that here there is a community where they will be loved.
Stand tall in your faith like that orange tulip – not being ashamed of the good news of Jesus Christ and the faith you are growing in, but rather empowered to show your faith to those around you through word and deed. Paul wrote in Romans that he was “not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Instead, know that like the tulip, standing tall is a form of beauty – that tulip wasn’t menacing in its presence, it was astonishing.
This week my prayer for you is that you would have courage to stand tall in your faith, shining the light of God’s good news.
Blessings,
Pastor Amy
