“Zero to hero…” this is what I hear my daughter often singing. She learned a variation of this in song form at school. For some reason, when I heard her say it for the 10,000th time, I began to think about the true power of a zero. When a zero stands alone, it does not carry worth. But when you put a zero behind a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9… it increases the value greatly. If you add a couple of zeros onto the end, well, you know how it goes. In our lives, we will sometimes play the part of the zero and sometimes be the one out front.

One great example of a powerful zero is Bayard Rustin. When we look at history, we are familiar with the name Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and rightfully so, but we are not as familiar with Bayard Rustin. There is a good possibility without Mr. Rustin, Rev. King’s “I have a dream” speech might not have ever happened. It was Bayard Rustin who was pivotal in organizing the March on Washington that produced the speech mentioned above. As a gay man with questionable ties to communism, he was not someone who was able to lead the charge. However, he knew well who he was and what strengths he had, and he comfortably gave power to the civil rights movement from behind the scenes. There are seasons in my life when I know I am called to be a zero. That is the type of zero I want to be!

During this season of Lent, I am calling on all of us to be zeros! Less of us, more of Jesus. As you are engaged in your spiritual disciplines and seeking Christ with great desperation, he will be raised to the forefront of your life. When people look at you, they will see Jesus. That is the way it is supposed to be. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” As an ambassador for Christ, your life should be an image of the resurrected King. Our hearts and deeds should speak volumes to others about who we follow and what a great love he has for the world. All honor and praise to Christ alone. Amen!

From one light to another,
Pastor Hannah Loughman

Photo by Bart Maguire