ON REFLECTION
REV. IAN W.F. HAMILTON
A Smany “Friend” readers know, over the years I have had the enormous privilege of engaging in summer pulpit exchanges to New Jersey.
We have crossed the Pond 17 times now, and I have taken several services in the Wyckoff Reformed Church and in St Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Ridgewood.
We have forged many friendships with these two particular congregations, and it’s always a privilege to lead these good people in worship and to share with them the riches of the Gospel message.
A particular advantage of our destination being New Jersey is that our base is situated just across the George Washington Bridge from New York City.
Being city people ourselves, we just love to visit “The Big Apple”.
No matter how many times you return, there’s always something new to discover.
Driving in New York is exciting – you take your life in your hands!
However, there’s something especially exciting about driving along the Henry Hudson Parkway and finding a parking lot which is accessible to midmanhattan – especially if we are en route to see a Broadway show!
Over the years, we’ve seen quite a few Broadway musicals, such as “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Kiss Me Kate” and “The Sound Of Music”, to name but three.
Broadway shows are absolutely fabulous.
The lavish sets, the large orchestras, the singing, the dancing – the whole theatre atmosphere.
They sure do it as only Broadway knows how!
On a particular New York City visit, we went to the famous Radio City Music Hall, which houses the world’s largest Wurlitzer theatre organ – and yes, I was invited to play it!
“What did you play?” I hear you ask!
Well, I went on to play the processional from “The Sound Of Music”, which I knew from memory.
A few years later, when we went to Radio City to see a Natalie Cole show, I kept thinking to myself, “I can’t believe I once played that organ down there!”
When you go to New York, you are completely dazzled by the bright lights of the city and especially around Times Square.
Not surprisingly, the words which immediately spring to mind when we stand there under the bright lights of Broadway are those of Jesus – “I am the light of the world”.
These words seem to take on a new meaning for me as I think of how wonderful it would be if the whole world could be lit up with the great light and love of Jesus Christ.
But Jesus said also, “You are to be lights for the world”, and so it seems to me that we must reflect his loving light and spread it among those whom we live and work and move.
The bright lights of Broadway truly reflect a new meaning.