A few weeks ago I attended a funeral of a woman in her 80s, who through the years had been a foster mother to more than 60 children. Though this woman seldom left her home in her later years, she and her husband became official guardians in their 60s (being too old to adopt) to two preschool sisters, one of whom became my friend.

As a teenager, Cindy used to baby-sit my children. She has since married, now has a child of her own and is a committed Christian. And this is all because of her adopted mother’s love and a small country church fellowship who took those girls into their hearts.

It’s a story of hope. It is like a pebble in a pond that creates ever-widening circles.

Times are dark. There is no doubt about it. We seem caught in a darkening storm in which the words of Jesus, "I am the light of the world," never were more needed; yet at the same time, never seemed more remote or ineffectual.

In a recent e-mail from Focus on the Family, the writer surveys the horizon. "Marriage is under fire. Homosexuality is chic. Abortion is still legal. Science is clamoring to destroy some human embryos for research and create others as clones. And saying the name ‘Jesus Christ’ in a public school as anything but an expletive can get you suspended if you’re a student, fired if you’re a teacher."

With facts like that, it is easy to give up hope. You may feel insignificant, thinking your life can make no difference.

I just finished re-reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. If you dare, go read the spellbinding epic. Setting aside the many wonderful subplots, the central story is about hobbits, small creatures of Middle Earth, given crucial task of carrying an ancient evil Ring of power into foul enemy territory to destroy it. Although the Ring-bearer and his companions have many narrow escapes, the seeming insignificance of the hobbits works to their advantage. The Dark Lord considers them a nuisance but not the real threat. One lesson is clear. Often, those of us who feel most unworthy play a crucial role in God’s plan.

Special gifts

You may say you have no special gift to offer at such a dangerous time as this. But that is a lie of the devil. We each have talents that we can use to serve, not just in our families and in our church, but in our community and perhaps even in our nation.

One friend of mine works at a veterinarian’s office. She just talks to people. She regularly brings prayer requests for co-workers and clients who share their struggles with her. She drops little pebbles of hope in the dark pool of the world and watches God work.

One group called "Mothers Who Care" meets in small groups weekly to pray for their children’s public school and offer non-threatening encouragement to teachers and staff. More pebbles of hope in a murky stream.

A church group that I know meets for Bible study and then plans projects of help to their community such as knitting mittens for children in crisis. And that is what all of Christ’s children must do. The church does not exist for protecting itself but for sharing hope.

In a world that seems increasingly dark, we as followers of the hope found in Jesus Christ must not "hide our light under a bushel" or barricade ourselves in the safety of our churches. While never forsaking the study of Scripture or the speaking of the truth in love, we must let Christ’s light shine by being active for Him in places where Christ’s name is not understood and perhaps is not welcome.

In our battle against the Prince of the Darkness, each of us must do our part. Prayer is essential. Speaking out boldly against what the Bible condemns is essential. But never must we abandon the power of lending a helping hand and loving our neighbour. As Scripture says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).