>>Robert Fulghum, a noted author and really committed Christian. He’s also a sociologist, went to a conference on the Isle of Crete. He went for a three day conference that was focusing on peace and justice in the world. And at the end of the conference, which was given by a man by the name of Alexander Papaderos.

Papaderos said, “Are there any questions?” And Robert Fulghum raised his hand right away. Papaderos called on him. Robert Fulghum asked, “Can you tell me what the meaning of life is?” It was interesting. Some people in the conference kind of looked at him like he was an oddball. Others kind of laughed.

What a weird question to ask. But nonetheless, he was sincere. Can you tell me what the meaning of life is? And Papaderos said, “Yeah, I think I can.” He reached in his backpack and he pulled out his wallet, and inside the wallet was a piece of mirror the size of about a quarter.

He said, “For me, this is what the meaning of life is all about.” He explained as a little boy, he was on the island of Crete during World War Two and he saw a lot of death and destruction. He came upon a vehicle that had been blown to smithereens and the rearview mirror had been shattered into a thousand pieces. He took one of the pieces of glass mirror, as a little boy, and he played with it. He held it up to the light. And what he found, is he was able to capture the light of the sun and direct and bring it to dark places, places that never had seen the light of day before.

Over the years, he rubbed it on stone and brick, and he kept it in his wallet. And then he went on to explain, “I know that I’m not the light of the world. The Christ is the light of the world. But as disciples of the Lord, we are to carry the light of Christ. We are to bring the light of Christ to places of darkness. The Light of Christ to the places where there’s hurt and division.” We are to carry the light of Christ. The Christ bearers, as it were.

Jesus says you are the light of the world. Carry the light of Christ into the world. Bring light and hope and healing to others. That’s what we do here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. “How do we do that?” you might ask. “How do you do that?” you might ask. Well, the great prophet Isaiah gives us a pretty good idea of what we can do. Care for the homeless. Cloth the naked. Feed the hungry. Show compassion and mercy.