it begins

I am indebted to Chad Miller and the community of young adults from Whittier Area Community Church for the inspiring title and description. These words have haunted me from afar and seem to encompass my desire for this blog as it begins.


"Illuminate ... assumes that God’s Light shines on everybody (Matt. 4:16), but that it is our responsibility to cultivate God’s light in us (Matt. 4:19), so that His Light can shine through us to a dark world (John 13:12-17). In order to cultivate the Light of God in us, we meet weekly ... for encouragement, teaching and worship. In order to let God’s Light shine through us we reach out in service ... seeking to meet real, practical needs and to illuminate the Gospel in our actions." - Chad Miller


il·lu·mi·nate /v. ɪˈluməˌneɪt; adj., n. ɪˈlumənɪt, -ˌneɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[v. i-loo-muh-neyt; adj., n. i-loo-muh-nit, -neyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -nat·ed, -nat·ing, adjective, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to supply or brighten with light; light up.
2. to make lucid or clear; throw light on (a subject).
3. to decorate with lights, as in celebration.
4. to enlighten, as with knowledge.
5. to make resplendent or illustrious: A smile illuminated her face.
6. to decorate (a manuscript, book, etc.) with colors and gold or silver, as was often done in the Middle Ages. –verb (used without object)
7. to display lights, as in celebration.
8. to become illuminated. –adjective
9. Archaic. illuminated.
10. Obsolete. enlightened. –noun
11. Archaic. a person who is or affects to be specially enlightened.

These definitions challenge who I am, how I live, and who I long to be.

Will you seek to be illuminated and illuminate?