Light
Have you ever stared into a flashlight? Come on…you can admit it! As foolish as that was, it gave you a pretty amazing light show into your pupils, eh?
Even more spectacular is the light that we receive from the sun; there is no on/off switch; it’s a blazing nuclear reaction. No batteries either; even though the sun will one day stop shining too; all stars die, i.e. supernova. Here are some of my thoughts about the wonders of light; especially in regards to good ol’ Sol.
Practicals:
- Sun light helps us see. This may be a bit too simplistic, but just try walking in a strange house when it is pitch black night out, or run in the woods at midnight with no flashlight. I believe that your skin tone on legs and forehead will match that of the night sky.
We try to replicate that light, with lamps, lanterns, flash lights, and candles during the night; mainly so we can safely travel from one place to the next. Simply stated; I believe that we humans do this so that we can have full confidence that each step we take will be sure, accident free ones. But, as well, I believe there is another underlying reason for this; we are fearful of what we can’t see, or perceive.
- Light gives us and plant friends vitamin D (I used to think it was just from Moo Juice) and energy; a potential for growth/sustainability.
- Light keeps us warm. Our planet is just close enough to the sun to give us warmth and keep our planet’s environment livable and functioning. Just a fraction too close we melt, just a fraction too far and we’d become popsicles.
Amount just right of Light:
If we had light from the sun all the time, plant friends would wither, lakes would evaporate, we would lose sleep, and our bodies would get run down faster.
The sun is the center of our solar system, and has a part(gravitational pull) in determining our orbit and angle;which gives us our four seasons (an observation of how far we are away from the sun at given points). As well, the sun gives us rain by steaming ocean water into water vapor, which collect, form clouds, and as they get too full and big, provide rain. I just found out this fascinating science fact the other day; when reading one of my daughter’s children’s books (Ah, the only way to learn science).
Lightbright:
The sun is intense in its brightness; no one can stare directly at the noonday sun, without squinting, going blind, or wearing shades. Our senses are overloaded by the sheer magnitude of the light. Even at sunset, when we can stare at the beauty of the sun; when we look away from it, or close our eyes; we see the circular impression/shadow of the sun temporarily burned onto our retinas. That intense power gives the sun its regal standing in art, and literature throughout history, and culture; to be personified as a king, a deity, or at least chief over all of natural forces. It seems that there is something intentional here to give a picture of how much recognition/honor we need to give to an object that provides such light and heat. Possibly, there is a someone that this is imagery is pointing to.
Philosophy:
The phrase “In the dark”, means you don’t understand, or are confused.
Light is associated with all things being revealed; as in the phrase “Let’s shed some light on this matter”. This is an objective observation from nature that I believe gives us a picture of how we can have understanding in how to investigate/evaluate ideas, circumstances, etc. Light is also then, associated with truth, because what is truth, but a complete revealing (by enlightenment) of things as they really are.
I believe even deeper still that with true light there is heat; as with fire. This is something that takes light beyond revealing, but also changing/transforming. True light makes things seen for what they are; light with heat/fire brings what is objectively seen into a process of: burned, melted, and refined into a new form.
The Sun versus the Son:
Lots of figures in history have claimed to be the Sun, Pharaoh in ancient Egypt; also in different mythologies (Apollo in Greek), and the like. However, when it comes to Jesus Christ; he is not only attributed as being the “Sunrise from on high to shine in the darkness” in the Old Testament, but he himself proclaimed to be “the Light of the World”. Now we can place this as a metaphorical statement; of bringing spiritual enlightenment, but I believe there is grounds for saying that actual physical photon-light shines from Christ. Like when some of His friends/disciples were on a mountain with Him and they heard God speaking from the clouds approving of His Son; the statement was that they saw Jesus' face and clothes shone brighter than the sun, radiating intense light. Then, a look into a future event in the book of Revelation; the Sun stops shining (remember, all stars die), but with Christ’s returning presence on the earth He Himself shines, so that there is no darkness, or night in the new heaven. I believe that Christ wins this power contest, hands down.
I believe that the practical observations of light/sun have pretty strong pointers to an intensely powerful, providing Creator, that shares His light with us; so that we will see in the darkness and not stumble, and also see the darkness in us that Christ is wanting to bring change to with His intense light, and heat.
Diggin’ deeper:
“The Sun is like a bridegroom coming out of a pavilion…..It rises from one end of the heavens, makes its circuit/course to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.”
I find it interesting that the psalmist doesn’t say that nothing is hidden from it's light, but rather it's heat. Remember, heat is the part of light that causes change!
Also,
“The commands of the Lord are radiant; giving light to the eyes.”
-Psalm 19
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – Jesus Christ speaking in John 8:12.
