I am taking off my sunglasses.
I am stepping out of the shadows.
I want to see this
glistening, golden, gorgeous
Light
for myself …
I want to know:
Can I keep my eyes open
in the face of God’s Glory?
How much of this Radiant Love
can I stand?
At 5 months old, it’s officially my baby’s first spring.
The other day, it was warm enough to ditch her fuzzy infant carrier, so I slung her on my hip to enjoy the sunshine on our way into the YMCA. I glanced down to revel in her reaction to one of her first warm breezes. Instead, I noticed she was squinting.
Oh! I thought: it’s her first spring. She’s not used to the light … the sun is hurting her eyes. As I made her a little visor with the palm of my hand, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit in my heart:
She’s uncomfortable in the light because she’s used to living in the darkness … how are you uncomfortable in the Light of my Love because you’re used to living in the darkness of the world?
That gave me a lot to contemplate as I worked out on the elliptical machine for the next 45 minutes.
Ephesians 5: 8-14: For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
I am fortunate to largely “live as a child of the Light” insofar as I devote myself to family, faith and service to the best of my abilities. Where in the past there were more dark experiences in my life to work through, now my life is full of the joy, peace and love that are fruits of the Spirit.
Exodus 33:20: But, “he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” However, can I fully say I am comfortable “in the Light” of Christ’s perfect, unconditional love and high calling to follow in His footsteps?
Not at all.
I still have areas of fear, doubt, insecurity, sin and negativity, which cause me to squint uncomfortably when the Light of Christ shines on them, revealing how far I have to go before I can be fully illuminated by His love.
Though I’ll continue the work of bringing my shadows into the Light of Christ through prayer and study – as a human being, who is not fully Divine, I know I will always have areas that still need to be transformed by His perfect love.
In the same way that my daughter will surely acclimate to the bright light of spring the more time she spends outside, we can all surely acclimate to the bright Light of Christ’s love and truth over time, the more we devote ourselves to spending time with Him.
What areas of life are you living in the darkness of fear, insecurity, sin or negativity? How are you stepping into the Light of Christ through prayer and meditation?
Saint Irenaeus said “The Glory of God is man fully alive.” Lord, give us the grace to be more fully alive in the Light of Your Love. Shine like a spotlight into the dark areas in our hearts, where we are holding on to fears, resentment, and every form of negativity. Wash away the shadows, and bring us to life in Your Spirit. Give us the grace to shine as “the Light of the world” You created us to be.
Matthew 5: 14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, 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 glorify your Father in heaven.
Written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 4/6/2019