Over the last two weeks have you paid attention to the many spectacular ways that light and darkness have influenced our lives? Mars reflected its magical reddish light, soaring closer to earth than at any other time in 60,000 years at 34.6 million miles rather than its usual 140 million miles into outer space.

There was an incredible lightning show, and while it cut a swath of destructive wild land fires in the bay area, it was an awesome celestial choreography. Watching it dance its many energetic awesome steps, twirls, and twists was a reminder of creation’s beauty, power, and mystery.

The sunsets have also been remarkable the last two weeks. Red, orange, and gold tinted clouds, majestically wispy or roiling, hung in filmy skies with hues that morphed from the deepest purple to the faintest blue.

Last week and this, the light of human existence struggled mightily against the forces of its own darkness. The profoundly evil murder of the United Nations’ staff in Iraq, the seemingly endless, senseless Islamic terrorist murders of Israeli civilians and Israel’s equally senseless and provocative counter assaults, and the immense dangers plotted against United States and allied military and moderate leaders in Iraq.

It is curious how we talk about light in our lives. A friend who has struggled with depression since being laid off over a year ago, said of some important changes in her life, "It’s as if a light suddenly burst into my life. I see where I am going again."

A congregant, upon learning of April Buckle’s death, said of her valiant three-year resistance against cancer, and her choice to live her life fully and abundantly to the very end, "A wonderful light in my life has gone out and yet the darkness I feel is filled with the light of her memory." Indeed! It was a strong light that pierced the darkness when April set her mind to doing battle with the cancer using the only two tools at her personal disposal, great love and living her life fully. Her light shined on Kelly and Mike’s graduations and on Tom who gave of himself caring for and being present to April.

Light, Divine Light, not dark cancer, had the final word in April’s life. I am grateful for the inspiring witness in the way April chose to live her life while en extremis: "Like a light… on a lamp stand that gives light for everyone in the house." She remained authentic, open, good-humored, forward-looking, and closed the circle of her own life with dignity and immense love for her family. She fulfilled Jesus’ admonition to let her light shine "so that people saw the goodness and praised God in heaven."

Each day, whether we choose to or not, our lives and relationships are a matter of light and darkness. The writer of Proverbs contrasted the life of the righteous to a sunrise, getting brighter and brighter. What does it mean, righteous? To be righteous is to so put your heart and soul into your daily life that you are embodied radiance. Sure, we can do our jobs, put in our time, follow the rules, do life by the book, color inside the lines, play all the notes, but if our hearts and souls are not in it, there is no light, no life, no vitality and spirit. To be righteous is to let the Divine Spark kindle the very core of your being and radiate its light and fire through you into all that you do and into all your relationships. It is to travel through life like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter!

There was a crusty old evangelical line that asked, If you went to trial accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you? In spite of the hubris and negative framing of the question, its challenge is similar to Jesus’ positive call, that we live so that God’s light is reflected in who we are, what we do, how we relate, and what we value: "You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; no they put it on a stand where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good and praise God in heaven" (Mt. 14-16).

The Psalmist proclaims that the heavens show forth the majesty of God. The light reflected from Mars, the subtle beauty of refracted light and hues in sunrises and sunsets, the spectacular light shows of electrical energy, the light that penetrates some darkness in our lives, and the witness of a life lived fully and well in spite and because of impending death, each of these give us pause to see what is good in life and to praise the source of all goodness, God in heaven! And what of your life? Is God’s light shining in you and is your life a shinning mountain top reflection of Divine Light and Love? May it be so for each of us, to the glory of God!
 
 

testing