After days and days of heavy clouds blocking our view of the sun and any
sense of brightness, blue skies and sunbeams re-emerge from time to time.
Doesn't it lift your spirits?
No wonder we look up and imagine clear, clean atmosphere way beyond the sky when we think about heaven. And no wonder we describe God as shining with bright light and Jesus as the light of the world. The images draw our spirits up and out, expand our souls beyond the earthbound concerns of natural life, and send them skipping into the gleaming, white-marble throne room of God.
The sun not only lightens our eyes, but also lightens our sense of heaviness. The long, hard winter we are in has made many folks more depressed than usual. The experts even have a label for the syndorme: S.A.D., seasonal affectional disorder. The winter season affects our willingness to smile, our capacity to cope. I've often thought it would be great to hibernate for the winter, like bears. Not given that luxury, we can help ourselves through a season short on natural light by turning to God's light.
- The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
- The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ...
- Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
- be gracious to me and answer me!
- 'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!'
- Your face, Lord, do I seek. (Psalm 27:1, 7-8)
- The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ...