The Light We Cannot See
Once a few Decembers ago we were planning a holiday party and I decided it would perfect to light the weeping cherry tree in the front yard.
The week of the party I left the office at one o’clock. I needed to deck these boughs while the light held, and I figured I needed at least a couple hours. I would hang a strand, then wriggle through the brittle branches and down the ladder to see what it looked like. Even lit, I couldn’t see the lights. I couldn’t tell if I had too much on one side and not enough on the other, gaps or hot spots. The irony was, I needed to work in the light but I could only see the result of my work in the darkness.
And again…
For the party we lit all the candles in the living room. It’s a large room with only a few table lamps, so we put tapers and votives all along the mantle, on end tables, on the piano, in the window sills, on book shelves. Maybe twenty flames.
At night’s end, when everyone went home, I cleaned up the last of the dirty plates and glasses and blew out all the candles. I started with the tapers surrounded by globes on the mantle and worked my way around the room, whiffing one flame after another until a light haze of smoke hovered near the ceiling. Then I turned off the table lamps and started to leave.
That’s when I saw it. One light flickered in the darkness. One votive tucked beside a vase on a corner table—I’d missed it. I could see it only in the darkness.
This is the season when we watch for the Light. If you want to see the stars, though, you would be foolish to stargaze at noon. Just so, our search for that one small flickering Light is hindered by a kind of light pollution. There are too many flashy images, too many garish temptations, too many glowing video screens.
If we want to see that Light, we are wise to turn things off for a while, be for a time in the darkness until it isn’t really dark anymore, because our spiritual eyes adjust, and we begin to see…in a new Light.
P.S. Advent is days away, and once again I am posting a reflection every day of the season. It’s called “A Kitchen Table Advent: Short Reflections to Share with Family & Friends.” I can’t wait!
Thanks, David! I’ll be at the Kitchen Table. Peace, Johnna
I love this David…thank you…only in the darkness can we see the light. I can’t wait to journey through advent with your reflections and be at the kitchen table with you.
Looking forward to walking in the dark with you this Advent!
Thank you David. Based on this I think I’ll adopt a Lenten practice and give up something for Advent by turning off a lot of my news and commentary feeds. I’m sure I’ll feel like I’m in the dark without them but I’m guessing that’s the point.
Thank you, David. Watching for the Light.
Thank you David,, I’m looking forward to the light you will bring to us.
There is always light in our hearts because The Son is always shining. Looking forward to the light coming from ur kitchen table!
Amen! After all the other lights are one by one eliminated, “the LIGHT” softly makes His presence in my heart. ♥️
I really enjoyed this series last year. Looking forward to this!
Thanks for being at the Table this year.