Shubh Divali: A Life Lesson From The Festival Of Lights
Divali as it is called in Trinidad and Tobago, (Dipavali, Diwali or Deepawali), is also known as “the festival of lights.” This festival heralds a lot of zeal and enthusiasm in Trinidad and Tobago, India and a few other nations. Hindus celebrate by donning new clothes, decorating their homes, lighting diyas (earthen lamps), making a lot of traditional dishes and participating in a lot of activities related to the celebration of Divali. The lighting of the diyas is symbolic of the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness.
As I anticipate this year’s celebrations (I am not a Hindu myself) I am thankful to have grown up in a country where every creed and race finds an equal place. I am thankful for the many cultures from which I have learned. The cultures that contribute to who I am and I am sure most “Trinis” are today. The splendid displays of artwork all alight with hundreds of tiny diyas, the sounds of cracking bamboo and the delicious scents of traditional Indian dishes all fill me with a sense of joy for the celebration and nostalgia of times past.
Even though you might not have a firsthand knowledge of the celebration there are many lessons that you can take away from it. The whole point of the festival of Diwali is to “light” up minds with knowledge that can be used for good and to dispel ignorant thoughts, attitudes and behaviors.
How can you move away from darkness and bring more light into your life? What journey are you travelling right now? Where do you want to be in the near future?
It’s often easy to take one day at a time (and we should) but every day you have life you should purpose to do something meaningful with it. Make responsible decisions that will impact your future in a positive way. Life is too short yet too valuable to be tied to things and situations that are meaningless.
If you are doing things that don’t fit into your plans for the future it is time to pick up, reevaluate your purpose, find a solution and move on.
Sure sometimes life throws a few curve balls but that does not mean that you should lose faith. I get them all the time (a lot more in the past) but what kept me going is the knowledge that every day I am doing something that I love doing. Since you are going to spend a great deal of your lifetime working it is vital that you do what you love and believe that what you are doing is making a difference. Keep looking and when you find it you’ll know.
You might not be celebrating Divali where you are today you can surely learn this lesson and let the light of Divali shine on your life.
Wishing you all a joyous and prosperous Divali and to my Hindu brothers and sisters, Shubh Divali!
Read MoreIf My People Pray
If My People Pray: An Eleventh-Hour Call to Prayer and Revival
I purchased this book about 6 months ago and it has grown to be a handbook of sorts for me. I believe that Christians, you and me, don’t pray enough. Yet God has blessed and continue to bless us in so many ways. Can you imagine what would happen if we prayed more? In this book the author Pastor Randy Maxwell explores the verse from Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I purchased this book to use in several church programs in an effort to get our church community to pray more and the book has blessed me in so many ways. I myself have struggled and still struggle with prayer. At times my prayer life is like a well overflowing with rich goodness and other times it becomes as dried up and fruitless as the desert sands but every day I exercise my faith in God and get on my knees and even when I feel that I accomplished nothing God reveals and rewards my faith throughout the day.
If you are looking to have a closer walk with God then look no further that If My People Pray, it will change your life.
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