Turn after turn I drove past country homes with no fences, unlike what I was use to in California. I rounded a corner entering Amish country and I was amazed at the sight of a simpler life which reminded me of a simpler time where neighbors knew each other and asking for a cup of sugar was not unusual. The homes were clean with storm doors and windows. The lawns surrounding these homes seem to have been manicured and extremely well kept. I marveled at obvious pride that was taken in the homes and property.

With a song in my heart I traveled mile after mile driving past these beautiful country homes. As it began to get dark I saw something unusual that caught my attention. A single lit candle had been placed in a window of each of these homes seemingly sending out rays of hope. At my first glance those little beacons of light shined bright against the dark skies. There was one home that caught my attention; it had a candle lit in every window leaving no window without a light.

I was intrigued wondering what began this custom. Home after home along the country roads that I was traveling on, had these beautiful candles shinning bright against the panes of glass. I knew there was a reason for them and I wanted to know what it was. I knew now that I was on a quest to find the reason for such a beautiful custom.

I began asking the people along the journey why the candles were in the windows, but no one seemed to know. After touring half of the state I found myself in an Amish museum which told the history, customs, and lives of our “peaceful neighbors.” Outside it had begun to rain. It was raining so hard that it sounded like hammering on the tin roof of the building, as if marbles had been poured out from a jar from heaven. I opened my umbrella ready to walk to my car, when I glanced to my left and in the window of this museum there was a single candle shining bright in the window. “I must ask again I thought to myself if anyone knows its meaning.” So I closed my umbrella and quickly shuffled my bundled body back into the museum.

Two ladies stood there who worked in this museum,“excuse me” I said, “can either of you two ladies tell me why I have seen these lit candles in the windows of country homes throughout the state of Indiana?” For a moment there was silence and a puzzled look across one of the workers. “I don’t know” she said, “maybe people just like them.” Her answer did not satisfy me. But just when I was ready to make my turn back to the door the other lady behind the counter said to me. “I know.” My hands froze on the doorknob and my step came to a halt. “Please tell me I said to her, I have been seeing all these homes all over the state with candles in the windows and I don’t know why.”

Then she began, “many years ago when my husband was a little boy, winter had hit much fiercer than was expected. His family had taken a short trip to a neighbor’s house using their new young colt to pull the sleigh in the snow. The snow became a flurry and soon the dark skies were filled with a white sheet of drifting snow. This was a snowstorm that left everyone disoriented and the young horse did not know its way home. Grandfather climbed off the sleigh in search of help, but disorientated he became lost and walked far away from the family and sleigh. Grandpa lost his life looking for his home or a safe place of refuge for his family. The rest of the family, unaware of the fate of their patriarch, kept searching to find some sort of shelter.

Then all of a sudden there it was, a single candle shinning bright through the snow flurry of the storm. At last they saw something that they could focus on and the family headed for the light. Closer and closer they struggled against the icy wind when at last they found the single candle sitting on a window sill inside a white country home. They had found refuge and hope. And that night neighbors opened their home to strangers who were in desperate need of help.”

As I heard that story my heart was pierced in how one act of kindness has now turned to a tradition through many homes in Indiana. You drive pass dark roads and there in the distance you see those little beacons of light shinning bright saying, “here I am a small little light seeming so insignificant but yet sending a message of hospitality and refuge to those lost in the storms of life.”

I began to think on how Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 NIV) We hold that light that can bring hope and inspiration to those who are lost in a world without Christ. We may at times feel small and insignificant because we look at our own inadequacy. But we must remember that like the moon in its self has no light to give but it only reflects the light from the sun we must do the same. In ourselves we have nothing to give but we can reflect the light of Christ through our lives to others bringing a beacon of encouragement to those in need.

This Christmas let us shine bright for Christ. You may feel like one isolated candle but together we can make a difference to a world in need of our Savior. After all Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 18:12 NIV) If we follow Him we cannot help but reflect His glory and His light. Shine bright and remember this year to put a candle in your window for all to see. Then, let them ask you why you too have a candle in your window.