Radiant

The doors were finally opened to return to the behavioral health center after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered things. It was so good to be back—in person!—sharing the Good News with evidence. On this day, I was running late. It was only a half hour session on Mondays, so even running a few minutes behind would cramp my time with the adolescents. My “preparation” was a few fervent prayers, sent up as I ran from the car to the building. There was a shorter lesson that I usually tacked on to something else, but I chose to use it as a stand-alone this time since we were running short of time. I hadn’t presented this one in quite a while and I had had no time to review. So, I was harried and breathless as the kids were coming in. I was feeling very unprepared.

For many months, even after the doors were reopened, masks were still required. It was challenging to speak (and breathe!) through the mask. And, even more so, it was difficult to convey the message effectively because I normally use a lot of facial expressions to help make certain points. But, as spread rates were slowing and vaccination rates were increasing, mask mandates had begun to loosen in our community. So, when I began to speak, I looked to the chaplain to see if I might remove my mask for this presentation. He nodded that it would be fine, and so I slipped the elastic from my ears and laid it to the side. To my absolute surprise, not one but two of the girls almost simultaneously said—out loud— “You are beautiful!”

I was flattered and a bit flustered! While I didn’t consider myself ugly, I certainly didn’t consider myself a raving beauty either. So, their exclamations were unexpected and, frankly, unprecedented. I may have muttered an almost embarrassed quick thank you, but then I just charged into the introduction and the content of my presentation. Yet, even as my mouth was moving, my mind was pondering . . . what might have moved them to make such a comment?! Today, of all days?

I proceeded to move through the evidence for how a global flood—of biblical proportions—would provide a perfect explanation for the onset of an ice age. As I have noticed before, sometimes when I am the least prepared, my presentations are the most passionate and Spirit-led. Rather than the frazzled feeling I had upon entering, I was making eye contact, driving home points, inserting things I had never planned to say.

They seemed captivated, all eyes on me, answers even coming from the young man whose eyes I couldn’t see—the one who had shaggy hair, dyed blonde and black, that completely covered his eyes like an unkempt sheep dog. Another young man, front and center, seemed to be particularly engaged. Pondering. Nodding. Agreeing. Contributing. I was blessed to see a genuine a-ha moment. This was registering with him. Somewhere inside, the disconnect between his heart and his brain—his faith and his intellect—was weaving itself together and making absolute sense. Maybe for the first time.

I left feeling exhilarated rather than frazzled. I had been privileged to see the Holy Spirit move in that place. Somehow, I had effortlessly flowed from the geological and meteorological evidence for an ice age to the saving grace of Jesus Christ! Helping these kids to see that they were not some cosmic accident, but created—in the image of God—on purpose and for a purpose.

In looking back, I couldn’t help but wonder if those girls had seen, not my beauty but, the beauty of the One who lives in me? Could they have somehow seen his light, his grace, his love, emanating from me as I slipped that mask off . . .? One gal from the jail referred to Christians as “shiny faces.” The Bible talks about how Moses’ face shone when he came down from the mountain after being in the presence of the Lord. The Psalms talk about how we will be radiant—no more shame! There is a little children’s song that says “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” While, I have to admit, I was flattered by the compliment when I thought it was actually me . . . way more flattered if it might be him!

“After they prayed, the place where

they were meeting was shaken. And

they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Acts 4:31 NIV

“So he reasoned in the synagogue

with both Jews and God-fearing

Greeks, as well as in the marketplace

day by day with those who happened

to be there.”

Acts 17:17 NIV

“Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered

with shame.”

Psalm 34:5 NIV