One day I sat on the deck drinking my beloved coffee. A cool breeze rustled through the leaves, and the trees began to wave, greeting me on this fine sunny day. The blue sky was clear with not a cloud in sight. Then I noticed a cardinal perched in a nearby tree...like a drop of red paint against a green canvass.

He glanced at me, then looked over the yard as if it were his kingdom. (And quite frankly, if he'll continue to devour the mosquitoes, of which I'm highly allergic, I will gladly yield to his sovereignty.) Everything was so peaceful and serene. Then my neighbor started his lawnmower. So much for paradise. But my cardinal buddy got me to thinking.

When all is said and done, and the day has come and gone, I can always count on a cardinal being a cardinal. Heavy stuff, huh? I find comfort in that. I don't have to wonder if he's a bird or what kind (his striking red feathers and ability to fly tell me who and what he is), how he feels about mosquitoes (loves them) or snakes (not so much), if he's secretly reaching for greater glory as an eagle, or if he's feeling a bit turkey-ish today. He's a cardinal, and everyone knows it.

People aren't like that. We often try to disguise our true beliefs and desires, but we can't hide from them. Ultimately they drive our actions, and our actions show who we really are.

Several years ago a group of Catholic Bishops let others know who they were and what they believed. Their faith led them to conclude that abortion was wrong in the eyes of God and that Catholic public officials who supported abortion were 'cooperating with evil'. The backlash from politicians claiming to be Catholic was harsh, as they made it clear their religious beliefs took a back seat to their political activity. They were committed to following their party, not following God.

That was 8 years ago. Little has changed. In fact, in my own country, the effort to prevent people from publicly speaking about and acting on their faith has increased dramatically. And so often what gives support to such efforts is the notion that one's faith is nothing more than a personal, private matter.

The real question is quite simple: Can we follow God in secrecy? It's a tough question but one we all must face. What does it really mean to be a Christian? Can we honestly believe that something is wrong and at the same time take deliberate actions to allow it to happen? Are we really taking a stand for God when we support those who oppose His teachings and commands?

There will always be difficult issues about which Christians will disagree. But there should never be a contradiction between the beliefs we claim to hold and the public expression of those beliefs. We cannot claim to follow God, then not actually follow Him. Those who are lost need to know who we are and what we believe so that they can trust us when we tell them, "I know the Way."

No clear light comes from a flickering flame tossed about by a fickle wind. The beam must be steady and sure if we are to carry the light of the world. Our lives should be a reflection of that light for all to see.

People do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

May your love for God be as obvious as a bright red cardinal perched in a green tree on a sunny day.