A Little More Light
December 5, 2017
“Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling.” I John 2:10, NRSV
I remember my ninth grade Algebra class. At first, the problems seem complicated and mysterious. But then, suddenly, I caught on. Aha! The proverbial light bulb went on! I loved the class and even thought I would become a math teacher. Alas, the next class was Geometry and I despaired of the theorem assignments. Maybe math teaching was not in my future. The light from an earlier class re-appeared in eleventh grade when I enrolled in Algebra II. The light came back on! Somehow it made sense and I sailed through the class.
The appearance of light and the disappearance of light are also part of the rhythm of life. We begin in the darkness of the womb. No light—but there is life! We emerge at birth and are bombarded with light, sound, and thirstiness. Finally, our human lives end, and people remark that “it seemed the light went out of her eyes and she died”.
The rhythm of the sun’s dawning, the mid-day rays and then the gradual darkening which slips into darkness is global. In all the world, there is the dawning and the darkening. Light appears and disappears.
The scriptures, too, are full of images of light and darkness from the first pages of Genesis to the final revelations of John. Jesus is called “The Light of the World”. And his disciples are assured, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
This Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons are full of light. My favorite seasonal decorations are candles, bright white lights on deep green trees, and lighted lamps. Whether indoors around tables or outdoors in neighborhoods, I feel comforted by lights.
Prairie View is also a light. It has been shining for over 60 years. The light appears in therapists’ offices and in art and drumming activities. The light appears when management solves complex budget issues and when credentialing issues are resolved. The light appears when a donor brings a check or a box of chocolates. The light appears when a client reports rest at night and calmness during the day.
“There is something good in everything…But loving the partial goodness in others, we bring them more quickly to the circle of Goodness which is God.” (Fulton John Sheen in WAY TO INNER PEACE, p. 143.)
May the Light of the World shine in all that we do and all that we are this Advent and Christmas season.
Dorothy Nickel Friesen is a retired pastor and Mennonite denominational minister. She served on the Prairie View Board of Directors for nine years.