Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

• Isaiah 60:1

“You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

• Matthew 5:14-16

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 4:6

The New Boilerplate

My wife filled a small book with “Angel” on the cover.  It was hidden with a box of crafting things.  On 18 July 2025, I thought I had posted the last of these.  But this little angel book held a prayer, followed by 71 quotes.  So, the “with a little help” series is back in business for a while.  And it will be fun for me.  She did not attribute any of the quotes.  The first quote was from James A. Garfield, the 20^th president of the USA.  The next one was disputed, with some thinking it originated with Teddy Roosevelt and others saying Fred Astaire.  After the prayer, these might be on the lighter side.

Her quote

“I don’t know what the big deal is about old age.  Old people who shine from the inside look 10 to 20 years younger.”

• Dolly Parton

The Discussion

Dolly Parton’s quote is a thoughtful observation, but not everyone has the light that shines from within.

Some people try to do it on their own.  The light does not last long.  Then suddenly they age drastically overnight.

For those who learn that the light does not come from themselves, but it comes from God within us, then they can shine God’s light.  God then provides all the energy that they need to continue shining His Light.

God is infinite.  We are not.  But the Light that we can shine will never dim.

Even when terribly ill, we can smile through the pain.  We can spread Joy to those around us.

It is not a macabre sense of gallows humor.  It is not a death wish.  It is a confidence that God has given us what we need.  Regardless of the outcome, God has us in the palm of His hand.

With that knowledge, it provides a great deal of Light with which to shine forth.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory