Today I have been singing the South African song Siyahamba, whose words translate to "We are marching in the light of God." This is because this morning the words, "in your light we see light (Psalm 36, verse 9)," caught my attention. I pondered these words and why they spoke to me today. There are other lovely phrases in this psalm, including, "Your love, Yahweh, reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the skies." I also like, "your justice is like a mountain, your judgements like the deep." So what appealed to me about, "in your light we see the light?"
The fact that the nights longer here in the northern hemisphere may have something to do with it. I am not really ready for winter, but here it is, ready or not. I also find the simple poetry of the words pleasing. I have an image of standing in a shower of light, surrounded by night, my head lifted to its source.
"In your light we see light." We see light in the dark as well though, don't we? In fact, in the depths of night even the smallest light is visible - witness the stars. So what does the psalmist mean by suggesting that we see light in the light of the Divine? Maybe when we are in Divine light, we see the light more clearly, or in a different way. When we go from darkness to light we blink a bit, shielding our eyes until they adapt. I wonder if we can adapt to divine light. If we stand in it long enough can we look into its brightness? When we move out of it do we then stumble about, unable to see until our eyes adapt again? Can we adapt to the thick of night?
The fact that the nights longer here in the northern hemisphere may have something to do with it. I am not really ready for winter, but here it is, ready or not. I also find the simple poetry of the words pleasing. I have an image of standing in a shower of light, surrounded by night, my head lifted to its source.
"In your light we see light." We see light in the dark as well though, don't we? In fact, in the depths of night even the smallest light is visible - witness the stars. So what does the psalmist mean by suggesting that we see light in the light of the Divine? Maybe when we are in Divine light, we see the light more clearly, or in a different way. When we go from darkness to light we blink a bit, shielding our eyes until they adapt. I wonder if we can adapt to divine light. If we stand in it long enough can we look into its brightness? When we move out of it do we then stumble about, unable to see until our eyes adapt again? Can we adapt to the thick of night?
Meditating further I began to wonder if the polarity between light and dark really makes sense. In another place the psalmist writes, "the darkness would not be dark to you; night would shine as day (Psalm 139, verse 12)." In divine light there may be no such distinction. Perhaps when we stand in divine light we perceive that the "dark nights of the soul" are not so dark. Maybe it's like we are blindfolded, unable to see. When we remove the blindfold we find ourselves surrounded by brilliance.
It could be that these words struck me because in difficult times I have sometimes found myself suddenly, unexpectedly blindsided by joy. Perhaps you have had a similar experience. It's a bit disconcerting, isn't it? It is so startling it can seem as though we have stepped into a different, more sacred reality. Maybe centuries ago, this poet and psalmist had the same experience. Stumbling about unable to see, then suddenly dazzled, bathed in light, lifting his head to find the Source that sees night shining as the day.
It could be that these words struck me because in difficult times I have sometimes found myself suddenly, unexpectedly blindsided by joy. Perhaps you have had a similar experience. It's a bit disconcerting, isn't it? It is so startling it can seem as though we have stepped into a different, more sacred reality. Maybe centuries ago, this poet and psalmist had the same experience. Stumbling about unable to see, then suddenly dazzled, bathed in light, lifting his head to find the Source that sees night shining as the day.
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