Light Of The World

Light of the World

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

Matthew 5:14-15

September is a time when Amish children head back to school. Many believe that Amish children only attend school in one-room schoolhouses, but many Amish scholars also go to public school. Once, I even met an Amish man who taught at a public school!

So what is it like to attend public school as an Amish person? Elizabeth Coblentz, author of The Amish Cook, describes it this way:

When I was at school age, we went to a two-room public school. First to fourth grade were in one room (the little side), and fifth through eighth was called the “big side.” A room for lunch buckets and coats divided the two. Then we moved to a different place, which brought us to grade nine and a high school. Was so different from a country school of eight grades. At the high school, they served a noon lunch, but who could afford it? . . . When our eight children went to public schools where lunch was prepared, I thought it was healthier to let them eat a warm meal at school. Made less work to pack the lunch and keep those buckets clean.

As you can imagine, Amish students will stand out among their peers in public school—from their faith to the way they dress to the size of their families. They aren’t your typical students. Yet standing out isn’t always a bad thing. God calls us to be salt and light in this world. In our daily lives, we will often interact with those who are different from us in some way. Instead of being intimidated by the situation, we have a chance to share God’s love with those who may never have heard about Him. When someone takes note of you because you are different, use it as your chance to shine the light of Jesus in that person’s life!

Dear heavenly Father, I often feel awkward when I am different from those around me. Help me to use any attention I receive to glorify You.