Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy

The lyrics of this song have been playing in my mind all week. 

"Brightly beams our Father’s mercy 

From his lighthouse evermore, 

But to us he gives the keeping 

Of the lights along the shore. 

Let the lower lights be burning; 

Send a gleam across the wave. 

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman 

You may rescue, you may save.

Dark the night of sin has settled; 

Loud the angry billows roar. 

Eager eyes are watching, longing, 

For the lights along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; 

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed, 

Trying now to make the harbor, 

In the darkness may be lost."

You may rescue, you may save...

But it's in the moments we rescue and save "some poor fainting, struggling seaman" that we begin to feel rescued and saved in the arms of our saviour. 

Its the moment our eyes meet with theirs and we begin to feel the light they are in need of. That they are trying to reach this harbour of safety. 

Even with the most feeble lamps, the light is what changes. The dark becomes a little lighter. 

Many times in our lives we find ourselves being the struggling seaman trying to find our harbour. 

Everything around us is dark. We at times feel no hope. The storm and waves ahead seem impossible. 

But then the light comes. It lead us safely back. 

The light of saviour leading us back into his embrace. 

The reward of being a representative of Jesus Christ is the ability to carry and share his light. To find these struggling seaman trying to find their harbour. 

On the way home from zone conference i sat by this man. The bus was full and as soon as i walked by him he moved his bag so i was able to sit. As soon as a sat down the spirit hit me so hard, prompting me to start talking to him about the gospel! We began chatting and getting to know each other. I started sharing our purpose and asking him about his religious background. He mentioned how he just moved here from Afghanistan and since moving here he hasn't really sought out religion because it was something so negative in his country. We continued talking about this and he paused and said, 

"I wasnt going to say anything but i have actually been looking into your church for a couple months now. Ive met with missionaries a few times and have gone to church as well." He went on to say, "I had to stop because the commute to Manchester was so far from my house." 

You should've have seen my face. My mouth hit the floor! I could not believe that out of all the people i happened to sit by on the bus he was the one. 

Joy filled his eyes as i expressed we had a church in Ashton. We continued talking about the blessing of the book of mormon and he talked about how he had already been reading it in his language. 

The lord truly places all who are ready at the fingertips of those who are wanting to find them.

We were headed back to our flat at the beginning of our exchange. We met up with this man at a crosswalk near our bus station. We began talking to him and quickly we found ourselves teaching him. And not just teaching him basic principles. Covenants. 

We introduced ourselves in the way that we help people come unto christ to prepare them to make promises with god. 

This sweet man quickly asked how he could make these promises, what did they mean? 

We began talking about baptism. 

He then said, "im going to be very honest. I have been looking for a place to do such a thing. I cant believe we have met."

Once again i had another mouth drop moment. We walked with him all the way to his home which crazy enough is around the corner from the church. We showed him the book of mormon and he is excited to learn more about it. And just to add a cherry on top one of his best friends growing up served a mission! He always wondered what he was doing. Now he is able to be let in on such a lifesaving and joyful message! 

I'll say this forever, 

The lord truly places all who are ready at the fingertips of those who are wanting to find them.

I know my lamp is feeble. My light alone cant lead anyone. But coupled with the saviour it is as bright as light can be. 

I cant believe the desire that burns within my soul to find these precious children. 

This was a week full of reflection. I really thought about the kind of missionary I am. The kind of missionary I want to become. 

I have a lot of weakness. Like a lot. 

A lot of things i wish i was better at. A lot of things i wish i didnt struggle with. 

But, im grateful for the light of my saviour. The light that is able to shine through me even though i have weakness. 

I believe that it is through our cracks that the Saviour is able to shine his light the most. 

My cracks are what show that I at one time was that sturggling seaman. 

Lost in dark. 

Not knowing where my harbour was. 

But, i did find it. 

The light came eventually. 

And I know it is through my cracks that i am able to find those other lost at sea. 

And it is all because of my Father's mercy. 

Let the lower lights be burning; 

Send a gleam across the wave. 

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman 

You may rescue, you may save.

With love, 

Sister B