Light of the World - Story Behind the Song

Story Behind the Song – Light of the World

Back in February of 2010 I had the chance to take a mission trip to India to take part in a pastor’s conference and a women’s conference there and to visit some slum schools and children’s homes in Kolkata. Being there in the city was a huge shock… the traffic, the smells, the food. I was struck by the children begging in the streets. I don’t mean on the side of the street- I mean in the streets everywhere amongst all the traffic (which in Kolkata is arguably the worst in the world). I was heartbroken by the homeless mother raising her babies on the filthy sidewalk just outside of the Baptist Missionary Station where our team stayed. They slept in the same space as the stray dogs. The vast sea of humanity that live in poverty and suffer there is quite staggering.

One of the most haunting images that I saw was a beautiful young woman who seemed to be around 16 years of age who was begging for food in traffic. With the frequency of beggars in Kolkata one cannot possibly give to all who beg… (In fact, our hosts who were Kolkata residents strongly discouraged us from giving to beggars at all due to the fact that many beggars are just being exploited by someone else to get money… the beggars don’t even get to keep their own money.) I peered into her eyes as she tapped on the glass car window and motioned that she was hungry. We thought that she was motioning that she was thirsty and Melanie gave her a bottle of water through the window but what she seemed to want was food. She kept pointing to her mouth as if she were hungry. We sat there for a moment not really knowing what to do and then traffic began to flow again and suddenly the car lurched forward into the traffic. We were never to see her again. Where will she find food to eat? How will she survive? Who will care for her?

In this city, one can’t help but be left with a sense of guilt. We have so much while they have so little. Even the most poor in America have much more than these. What I found in Kolkata in many cases was quite literally hell on earth- humanity’s worst. I wondered what could possibly be done to ease the suffering of so many millions of people... Yet there were many people I met there that were different. People that were so filled with God’s love that they were making a difference in the world around them. I saw God using his people to make a difference in countless lives –one person at a time. God’s Kingdom was happening through them! Truth being made known. Hungry bellies filled. Orphans given a home. Hearts being healed and people being loved. 

Wherever Jesus is King all this and more will be happening. Yet, the efforts of these few men and women fall so short compared to the great need. These realities move me to pray, "Let Your will be done. Let Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven…" 

This song is my prayer for Kolkata and anywhere else like it. It is my prayer for those that suffer. It is a prayer that God would listen to the cries of humanity and break through the darkness and explode upon the world his light and love.

Light of the World

God Most High, listen to the world cry

Open Your ears to the sound

God Most High, listen to the world sigh

Shine in the darkest place with Your glory- radiate

Light of the world shine down upon us

Light of the world come down among us

Kingdom of heaven reign in our hearts

Light of the world shine down shine down

Eyes that are tired of crying

There’s so much pain all around

Feet that are tired from climbing

Reach to the farthest place with your hands- elevate

Let Your kingdom come let Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Let Your kingdom come let Your will be done

Shine down, shine down, shine down