Last week, I had the privilege of serving at Appalachia Service Project with 40 youth and adult volunteers from our church. We worked to make homes warmer, safer, and drier for families on the verge of homelessness in Charleston, WV.  While there, we learned about the impossible odds so many face in an effort to make ends meet.

When you go on a trip like this, it’s easy to walk away with these ideas: 1) Wow, I’m really blessed (because my life isn’t as hard as those people), 2) Wow, they have nothing and they’re still so happy, 3) Wow, it feels really good to do nice things for poor people.  As a youth pastor, I want my students and adult volunteers to go deeper than this. I found this quote from Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries:

“I landed on the gospel that I wanted to use at his liturgy. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” I like even more what Jesus doesn’t say. He does not say, “One day, if you are more perfect and try really hard, you’ll be light.” He doesn’t say “If you play by the rules, cross your T’s and dot your I’s, then maybe you’ll become light.” No. He says, straight out, “You are light.” It is the truth of who you are, waiting only for you to discover it. So, for God’s sake, don’t move. No need to contort yourself to be anything other than who you are.”   -from Tattoos on the Heart

I shared this quote with our work teams, along with the context of Father Boyle’s ministry to bring hope to hopeless gang-members in Los Angeles.  I first wanted to remind our volunteers that even when they felt inadequate, they are already the light of the world.  They already have something meaningful within themselves to share with others.  I hoped these words would encourage them in their work to repair homes.

But more importantly, I wanted my volunteers to remember that the homeowners we helped are also the light of the world.  We have just as much to gain from our time with them by taking the time to see the light of Christ sparkling in them.  Just as I do not have to wait until I am more perfect to shine the light of Christ, the same is true for each and every person I meet.  The homeless woman on the corner, the young man who has lost all of his teeth from crystal meth, the man my age forced to retire from his work as a janitor because his leg needs to be amputated – and now he doesn’t have the coverage to pay for it.

The light is there.

The truth of who I am, the truth of who you are, the truth of who they are.  Where the world sees nothing, Jesus sees a city on a hill.  So let your light shine.  And open your eyes to recognize that same light shining forth from your neighbor.