Team Radiate (Madi, Britt, Jenny, Vivi, Miranda, Becca),
I remember being mesmerized by the beauty of stained glass windows when I’d walk into my grandparent’s church as a little girl. I’d study each little piece – the colorful chunks of glass that when carefully put together and separated by lines that have been soldered just right, created glorious pictures.
In college, I had the opportunity to study abroad, which required me to take classes on art history and church architecture. To be honest, not really my thing (but I grew to appreciate them both). One of our excursions led us to an afternoon spent in the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona.
I had no idea what I was stepping into. I was immediately brought to tears by the massive, rainbow stained glass windows surrounding me. That sunny afternoon, we were enveloped by unbelievable streams of light and color that felt too good to be true.
The other day, I had this revelation on my run (where I alway do the best thinking).
We are a lot like stained glass windows.
We have a lot of beauty to offer the world. We have a lot of Light to radiate. We have a lot of Love to give.
But without light shining through those colorful works of art, they are just “there” and useless.
Without God’s love shining through us, we are not able to be the beautiful souls that He created us to be. We are not able to step into the abundant life that He has so freely given us. We are not able to thrive. And we are not able to fulfill our purpose.
I pray that we are able to connect to the Father of Lights, that we allow Him to shine through us, and that others would be brought to tears (the joyful kind) when they encounter the Light and Love of God through us.
I am so ready to radiate with y’all. Next stop, Santiago!
Alyssa
