Shine the Flashlight

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Some of y’all heard that title and already started moving.

Parliament. “Flash Light.” The album version gives you five minutes and forty-six seconds to reconsider whatever made you think you were too dignified to dance.

In George Clinton’s Afrofuturistic funky universe, Starchild faces off against Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk (and yes…pun intended). Sir Nose: the patron saint of judgementalism who refuses to dance, smile, or let loose under any circumstances.

But then, comes Starchild. He is the high priest of the groove, equipped with the almighty Bop Gun and tasked with a divine mission: to break Sir Nose’s multi-dimensional pout.

What follows is the ultimate sci-fi dance-off. Starchild shines the flashlight on Sir Nose, blasting him with pure, uncut funk until the unthinkable happens—Sir Nose’s knees buckle, his hips sway, and the patron saint of judgmentalism finally dances his way into salvation.

What can I say, George probably just saw Star Wars and stepped away, and wrote the ultimate cosmic jam!

That song has stuck with me since childhood. Reading this proverb brought it right back.

Proverbs 20:27 says,

“The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.”

God’s ‘flashlight’ reaches inside, shining into those little rooms we keep telling everybody are already clean.

Oops…don’t open that closet, Lord.

God already sees what’s underneath the performance. So why do we keep faking the funk?

Here’s where I’m taking this picture (cause I know some of y’all are lost on this analogy): God can use the person we truly are to challenge the person we keep pretending to be.

“I don’t need nobody.”

Really? Or did needing somebody hurt so badly that you decided never to admit it again?

“This is just who I am.”

Maybe that’s how you learned to survive. Have you given yourself permission to grow?

Sometimes the light catches something beautiful we’ve been hiding. Tenderness beneath all that toughness. A desire to make things right that keeps interrupting our excuses.

Today is National Day on Writing. What happens when you write out the sentence you usually edit out. Then sit with it in your prayer closet.

You may discover that what you’ve been calling your personality is a defense you no longer need.

And you don’t have to shame yourself for having needed it.

Let God search you. Leave room for an honest answer.

Shine the flashlight. Sir Nose, your foot is moving.

🔥 REMEMBER

You don’t have to let the old story be your whole story.

🙏🏽 PRAYER

God, search my heart and help me live more honestly.

🎯 TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Write one sentence beginning, “I keep saying I’m…” Underneath, describe one recent moment that challenges that label. Read both sentences aloud.

About the Author

Fred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch

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