When I was 10 years old, I was in a Christmas musical called Twinkle and the All-Star Angel Band. In fact, for probably the only time in my whole life, I had the leading role: Twinkle (Marvel Ann). I’m still amazed at the depth of wisdom in the script of this play, and I listen to the demo tape almost every Christmas. It is a great reminder of our purpose here on earth.
The scene is set in heaven, based around the question: how do the angels celebrate Christmas? Since the day that Jesus was born two thousand years ago, Gabriel had led the angels in the same songs, doing what angels do best: sing. Now comes along Gladys who is the leader of the children’s choir, wanting to change the Christmas celebration set in place for centuries. Instead of the regular choral numbers, she proposes the children put on a dramatic presentation for all of heaven to see. The idea is preposterous. Change a heavenly tradition?
Gladys’ little sidekick is Marvel Ann, the tomboyish and slightly unconventional angel (why on earth was I chosen for this part? I’m not like this at all...). Between the two of them, they convince Gabriel to at least watch the program and all the angels take their places. In the classic play within a play, Twinkle and the All-Star Angel Band starts in on one of the best and simplest story lines I have ever seen.
The little angels play the parts of the stars in the sky. There are several different kinds of stars: rock stars, lone stars, wandering stars, and my personal favorite: Niagara the falling star. All of them have something in common: they are all talented. Whether it be singing, playing instruments, rock collecting, etc., they all had their place in the Angel Band. All of them, that is, except Twinkle. Now Miss Twinkle couldn’t do anything right. Yes, she was the north star, but that’s about all she had to offer. When she tried to sing, the angel choir sounded worse. When she tried to play Celeste’s harp, she snapped the strings. Everything she touched “turned into a disaster.” Finally, she decided that she was the only star that didn’t fit.
Well, it came time for the greatest event in the history of the universe: the birth of Jesus. Rumor had it that God was going to choose one of the stars to shine above the place where Jesus was to be born and show the way to the Savior. What a surprise when, out of all the beautiful and talented stars, God chose Twinkle for the job! Now, from the bottom of the star society to the place of honor rose the star who thought she could do nothing. Finally, it became clear what Twinkle’s purpose was: to be exactly who she was created to be and do what she did best: shine.
Gabriel was so touched by the simple message of the drama that had God written all over it. Isn’t that what God delights best in? Taking the lowest and raising them to the highest place, God believes in the ones that seem to have no place at all. Out of all the things that God could have chosen for Twinkle to do such as singing, playing instruments, or rock collecting, He chose for her to do the one thing that He specifically created her for: to shine.
It’s easy for us to focus our lives on all the things that we cannot do. We see the people around us and we are always comparing ourselves to them. If only I could sing like that person, or play sports like that person, or draw like that person. Yet, amidst these goals we constantly find that our musical pitch is always a little flat, strike 3 and we’re out, and stick figures line the outsides of our math papers. Therefore, we determine that we are a disgrace to society. We certainly have no place, because that person we desire so strongly to be is definitely not who we are. And we are exactly right.
God created EVERY ONE OF US for a purpose, and as long as our focus is on everybody else and how we don’t measure up, we will never find the gift that God has uniquely given us. It is only when we can look to Him alone and treasure the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made that we begin to see our purpose. God delights in showing off His creation, and the more we relish in who He created us to be, the brighter we shine.
The truth is that we are all stars in His galaxy; little lights in the vast darkness of the world. There is nothing like going out into the country to look at the stars, away from the distraction and man-made lights of the city. It is there we see God’s creation for what it is: HUGE and GLORIOUS. The Bible says that God knows every star and calls them each by name. If God could value a burning ball of gas THAT MUCH, just think about how much He values YOU and longs for you to become the person that only you can be! No one in the world has the gifts, personality, and experiences you do. What a treasure He has given you! You are a star. How do you shine?
As kids we sing the song This Little Light of Mine. The words are simple. Here they are:
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel; NO!
I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel; NO!
I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Have you ever thought about the unique person that God created you to be as the light of the world? John 1:3-5 says (about Jesus): “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” Jesus came into the world to bring life, and to give eternal and meaningful life to all of us (John 3:16). That life, that hope, and that love is the light of men and the light of the world. That life He gives to us. Therefore we are the light of the world. And what is the purpose? Just like Twinkle, to point the way to the Christ child. When we are truly shining as we are designed to do, God is given blazing glory in our lives. What an honor it is to be chosen for this special job!
Contrary to popular theology, EVERY ONE OF US has been chosen by God to shine in the darkness. The more shining stars there are, the more brilliant the night sky, and consequently the less darkness there is. How are you responding to God’s unique purpose in your life? How are you shining brightly for Him? As for me: this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
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