How does the Bible begin? You probably know the opening words of the Bible’s story of creation by heart. According to “Goodreads – Quotable Quotes,” comedian Ellen DeGeneres made a humorous observation about it when she said, “In the beginning there was nothing. God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better.”
We had never quite thought of it that way before, but DeGeneres makes a good point. Any way you look at it, whether anyone was there to witness it or not, at the dawn of creation God made light the star of the show. Ever since, of course, we’ve been reliant upon the light, devoted to the light, hungry for the light in all its forms: sunlight, moonlight, starlight, candlelight, firelight, incandescent, fluorescent, neon and halogen.
Nothing and no one seems to thrive long without the light. Light and life go hand in hand, which helps to explain why light imagery plays such a prominent role in spiritual conversation. We express our growth in love and hope and wisdom and faith with comments like: “I’ve seen the light.”
We modern folk are not the originators of the imagery that links light and spirit. It’s clearly as old as the first creation story and as tender as the linkage of light to the baby Jesus. Recall the Wise Men of the east who saw an unusual star in the western sky and followed it to Bethlehem of Judea. There, they discovered the child the Church would come to call the Light of the World. The Wise Men saw the light. They followed the light. They discovered more light. Light is truly the star of the story. It shines through and through it all.
Perhaps our treasured scriptures from across the ages have been trying to tell us something in all this discussion of light. Perhaps they have been trying to convey a comforting certainty to us – that it is God’s will, from start to finish, to dispel the darkness and gloom of our world, and to shine the light of love and hope and goodness among us.
But there is ample darkness remaining in our world, we might argue. Where is God’s light as terrorism lurks to strike when least expected? Where is God’s light when children go hungry and diseases take precious lives? Where is God’s light when grief, sadness, and loss make futures look bleak and dim?
Well, according to the ancient stories of light born among us, we have a role to play in bringing light to bear upon the dark corners of our world. We don’t have to be the light, of course. God has provided that.
But we are encouraged to search for the light until we find it ourselves. And then we are capable of absorbing and reflecting the light.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one day, the world in its stubborn darkness were simply and fully lit by all the reflected light of God’s love and concern for us – one person, to the next, to the next? Do you think it’s possible? The poet Goethe hoped so, when he said: “Someday perhaps the inner light will shine forth from us, and then we’ll need no other light.”
Nothing flourishes long without the light. Let’s find a way to let it shine. Amen.