Let the Sonshine In

 

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead, they put in on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ~Luke 11:33

Light that shines in darkness, Hope that never dies.  Love that conquers all things, Eternal Spirit Rise. ~Cloudia Charters at Comfort Spiral

Our home is surrounded by a forest.  Most of the year, the trees shade us from direct sunlight and our house stays dim inside even on the sunniest of days.  But the incremental transition from the dead of winter to the arrival of the Spring Equinox becomes a showcase for the sun as it runs its course freely shining through the leafless branches.

The front of our house faces east, so those rooms are the first to be illuminated.

The light from our middle room pierces the gloom so fiercely, it casts a sizeable wedge of brightness into our bedroom across the hall.

I'm struck by how the crucifix on the wall becomes its focus, a touching reminder of the One who is the Light of the World.

As the day progresses and the sun travels its course toward the west, how the light gets in changes dramatically.  I'm mesmerized by the designs made on our corner chair and the wall as the light encounters our window blinds.

If I choose to read sitting in that chair at this time of the day, natural light is all I need to see perfectly.  Cozy and inviting, indeed!

The late afternoon, however, tells a different story.  Currently, between four and five, the light coming in through our diamond-shaped window is so extraordinarily bright, I have to cover our printer with a placemat just to keep the glare from hurting my eyes!

There are times when I'll walk down our hallway toward our living area and literally have to shield my eyes with my hand so that I can turn the corner into the kitchen and not get blinded.

Observing this yearly phenomenon gives me pause in so many ways.  I become more attuned to the passing of time, and find myself slowing down to take in each moment gracefully and gratefully.  Seeing so much sunlight, even when the outdoors is about as inviting as an icebox, assures me that warmth will return to the earth once more.

Most importantly, though, I'm reminded of the light of Jesus, the everlasting light He gives us through His Holy Spirit.  We are not to receive that light only to hide it away, but to shine in onto everyone as we reflect the miracle of this great gift we have been given through Him.

And on the cloudy days, when the sun goes into hiding, we can maintain faith that the Sonshine is continually upon us, and we can reflect His light with the strength, confidence and joy we experience in His presence.

Amen!