I have always thought the idea of Light Pollution as an interesting description of the abundance of light that cities tend to give off. I work in Edina, MN an inner ring suburb of Minneapolis and I live in Waconia, MN an outer ring suburb of Minneapolis. When I drive home from work in the evening I do understand the concept of Light Pollution. There are a few short miles of my drive that are almost dark, but even these “dark” miles “glow” from the lights of suburbia.
I still remember the first time I traveled to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota and for the first time in my life saw stars at night without the effect of “light pollution.” It takes your breath away as you see a truly star filled sky. I vividly remember the feeling that it would be possible to reach up a touch one of the stars.
Today, as I write, it is the Christian Festival of Epiphany. It is the day we celebrate the coming of the Magi to the home of Jesus the Christ, now a small child, and the revelation that Messiah has come for the nations. It is the day marked by a star and the clear understanding of Jesus as the Light of the World. For those of you reading this who know me very well you know that I am a BIG Epiphany fan. It is my favorite day of the year.
As I was reflecting this morning on my day and the Epiphany of Christ, the thought came to me that we suffer from two kinds of Light Pollution. We certainly suffer from a physical light pollution but more problematic today is the fact that we suffer also from Spiritual Light Pollution. There are so very many things, ideas, and philosophies out there today that often make it very difficult for us to see The Light Of The Word!
I pray that you would be given the eyes of Christ – call it holy “songlasses” that would filter out all the light pollution of this world and help us to focus on Jesus the Christ – The Light Of The World.
John 1:1-9 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 8:12 (NIV)
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
What “light” in your world is distracting your from Christ?
<>< Craig