The Sparkle and Sound of Crystal
by Evelyn Lang
I love crystal – my eyes are drawn to stemware and bowls and the little animals that sparkle like diamonds in the light, reflecting rainbows on the walls. They are usually displayed in front of mirrors, which make them even more eye-catching.
It’s that time of year and all the stores are sparkling with lights,
their Christmas trees are beautifully decorated and music fills the air.
It’s always been my favorite time of the year. I don’t think I’ve
ever lost that childlike wonder of the season. One tree in a particular
store gets my attention each year. It’s decorated with sparkling
crystal ornaments that reflect the tree’s lights. It’s stunning.
I think that’s how the Lord sees us. His eyes are drawn to us. We are His beautiful crystal that reflects His Light. It shines from us. It radiates from us even in the darkness, just as the beautiful ornaments on the tree reflect the tree’s lights. The darkness makes the tree lights even more beautiful. He is the Light of the World shining His Light on us. In the darkness of the world, our light shines even more brightly.
Jesus’ blood that He shed for us on the cross, cleanses us so that we are pure, clean and clear. The cleaner and clearer the crystal, the more it reflects light. In Lessons I learned from the Lord, there’s a chapter titled, “Burn the Vegetable Soup and Clean the Pot.” In it I write how we are like reflectors. The cleaner the reflector, the more light will shine from it. What Jesus did for us on the cross and does all the time, is expose any cloudiness or film of sin on us. Then He polishes our reflectors to make us shinier and brighter than before.
Have you ever noticed that when you “ping” a fine crystal, it resonates with a beautiful sound? I am told that the finer the crystal, the better the sound. When I was a child, it fascinated me that in the very quiet of the night, a small tinkling sound would come from the tree. I had no idea what caused it, yet I loved that sound. It made me even more joyful and gave me a sense of comfort. I think that when the Lord touches us, we just want to praise Him. It’s so natural for our spirits to react in this way. Therefore, our prayers and praise make a beautiful sound to Him. He must stop and say – “Listen, that’s my beautiful child.” We are like crystals, tinkling music to the Lord.
When we see someone with Jesus’ Light shining from them, we are drawn to their light and warmth – their friendliness and welcoming spirit – we’re drawn to Jesus in them. During the Christmas season, it seems that everyone shines a little brighter. My husband, Bill, used to sing a song to me that he learned in Sunday school – “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” I want my light to shine after the sparkle in the stores goes away, after the tree is dismantled, and the crystal ornaments and presents put away. I want to have the sparkle and the sound of fine crystal – the Lord shining from and in me at all times.
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60: 1-2)
May you be blessed this Christmas with His glorious light and love shining from you.
(Excerpts taken from Lessons I learned from the Lord.)
