Blinding Light- Look, See, Pray

Today I took my own advice. Taking advantage of the sunshine, I visited Marine Park and sat down to “pay attention” to the moment. My chosen bench faced right into the sunlight- and I couldn’t lift my eyes without being temporarily blinded. Peeking from below my cap’s peak, I could see gloriously lit grass, and the shapes of the shrubbery opposite. Being January, there weren’t many people about, and few other distractions, so I could simply sit and “be me.”

It was lovely. A precious short interval between things on my “To Do” List.

I’m challenging myself this year to take photos in all kinds of light and weather. The most obvious subject today was the light itself: and the only pictures I took were of this pampas grass “feather” pointing its brilliant white fingers into the stunningly blue sky. Simplicity itself… white fronds reflecting sunlight, a view that I could see because the sun was behind me. I saw the effect of the light, without being blinded by the light.

As I perched, blinking in the brightness, I thought about Moses climbing the Mountain to meet Almighty God- Moses was so changed by meeting the Lord that his face shone and he had to wear a veil so people could bear to be with him! (read Exodus 34:29-35)

Visions of God are frequently blindingly bright- why not do a Bible study on that theme? It would be quite illuminating!

Young Timothy received two letters from his mentor, Paul. Having given Timothy a frightening job description – (God called you, Seek God and His ways, never give up- and teach the Church well) – Paul ends with this glimpse of the God who is the Blinding Light- “the immortal unapproachable Light” who is beyond our natural capacity to see. Yet God is revealed in and through Jesus Christ, so we serve and worship Him as the Light of the World.

One day, we will see Him face-to-face. Shine, Jesus, shine; and may your light be seen in me!

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen.
– 1 Timothy 6 v11-16