In a book titled It Was on Fire When I Lay on It by Robert Fulghum, he tells a story about when he asked Alexandros Papaderos the question, “what is the meaning of life?”
Robert Fulghum relates that Dr. Papaderos pulled a small round mirror out of his wallet. He said he had found the mirror and scratched it on a stone until it was round.
Dr. Papaderos said, “I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine-in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find… As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light-truth, understanding, knowledge-is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.
“I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world-into the black places in the hearts of men-and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”
Doctrine & Covenants 45:7
“For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world-a light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.”
The mirror found by Dr. Papaderos was not rounded and clean when he found it. It took scratching it on a stone. This symbolizes the refining process Dr. Papaderos undoubtedly went through to become a source that could reflect light. We are born with the light of Christ. When you look upon a young child you easily see that light. As we grow the light we reflect dims, or it brightens. It is our effort that determines this.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are blessed to know by what source we can reflect light. We reflect the light of Jesus Christ. He is the light. We can all be the reflection. We are made in the design and shape of our Heavenly Father, made in His image. The source of all light.
No Coincidences 