Living as a light.

Today I woke up early, partly due to a dream I had where everything in my life changed. The things I had given my time, energy and passions to had been quickly taken away and I was left without direction. This dream was just surfacing a lot of the recent anguish I had been feeling concerning work.
I have heard many times we work to live not live to work. But as a believer who is called to ministry 'as I go' work easily becomes the reason of at least part of my existence. On Friday I found out that the security of my job wasn't a solid rock but rather could be changed by the externalities of students whims. Ok we can deal with that, because at least my time has been effective. Then I find out information about various employees and realize, 'I'm no light!' I'm barely an occasional flicker......
At this point I'm disenchanted. If I'm not a light and work won't last forever what do I do?
Stay faithful, but don't stay the same.
This last week I have been challenged to look at life and work differently - from situations separate from the ones I mentioned. If you ask my husband, I am pretty stubborn and fairly convinced I have it all figured out - prideful. Why do I need the Bible to direct me as I have already ready through it a few times? Well we all know pride comes before the fall.
How do I be the light?
Colossians is a fascinating book that quickly beckons the Church to learn it live in the world without being like the world. Rather being its best members in areas of character. What really struck me was 4:5

'Conduct yourself with wisdom towards outsiders as to make the most of every opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. ' God grant me wisdom, let every word I say reflect You or Your character. So I truly make ethe most of every opportunity You grant me. Help me to hear Your voice in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of my pride help me to submit to You. As you make the wisdom of this world as to foolishness. For you are outside of time, outside of me and yet dwelling ever with me. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.