I Want to Be A Spotlight

So, I had this rad conversation with my cousin/bestie Carrie the other day. It got me thinking about a new metaphor for what I want to be like. Now I am going to try to eloquently explain it.

We hear about the Light of Christ, how we are supposed to emulate Christ, and how each of us has our own light to shine in front of the whole world. We have been told by prophets of old as well as prophets in these days that if we fail to let our lights shine before the world we aren't fulfilling our duty. So, here's the thing...I feel like my light was shining brighter and stronger at an earlier point in my life.

When I was twenty years old, I was a student at BYU-Idaho along with my best friends. We were all extreme lights to the world. We owned the world in our palms. We knew exactly who we were, what we were doing, and where we were going. We were happy, healthy, and had fun almost non-stop. I want to be that Mandy again, only older and wiser from experience.

With that bit of a background and introduction, Carrie and I were talking about how we used to be those vibrant lights to all those around us and how we would like to become those lights again. I told her, without thinking much about it, that I would like to be a spotlight. This, in turn, stayed on my mind (partially because she wrote about it on her blog). I want to be a spotlight, what does that mean? How do I make that happen? Spotlights are some of the brightest lights I have ever seen. They are made to make people stand out, usually while displaying an amazing talent/ability given to them. They are a solid, constant, consistent light. They can be changed to focus on one or various people. Sometimes, spotlights can even change color. Let's apply all of these facts into how each of us can become a spotlight.

We have to be bright. It seems a common metaphor to compare the human being with a candle flame. I thought about wanting to be like a bonfire, but then I realized that when you have a bonfire next to a candle, the candle's flame doesn't seem to exist, or seems very small. I don't want to be powerful and make others lights not shine as bright, or become unnoticeable. Spotlights, most of the time brighter than bonfires, are also a different kind of light. A spotlight could actually be used to help a candle flame become more noticeable because of this difference. Its light will not lessen or diminish the value of the candle flame. I want to do this for other people. I want to make who they are more noticeable. I want to be as bright as I possibly can be while helping others create more of an impact too. I want to help people display their own talents and abilities, never drown them out.

I want to be a spotlight rather than a flame because spotlights are constant and consistent. They are giving the same amount of light the whole time they are on. They don't vary according to the wind, rain, smog, sun, etc. They are the same no matter where they are or what they are around. As long as a spotlight is shining they are at full power. My desire is to be a stronghold such as a spotlight. Reliable, sturdy, constant, etc. It's important to do this in order to accomplish the first desire of being a spotlight.

Spotlights can be different sizes and colors. I think this comes into play when a person is able to be put into any situation, comfortable or not, and still be what they need to be. I want to be adaptable enough that no matter what situation I find myself in, I can become comfortable with who I am in that situation. I also still want to be a spotlight in any situation I find myself in.

This is a metaphor that is a work in progress, but I feel like it is going well so far. I want to be a spotlight. That's all I want to be. I want to be happy, outgoing, fun, and confident. I want to be that twenty year old me with more experience and more wisdom, but the same vibrancy. I will accomplish this goal.