The Life-Light Blazed
Shandra Newcom of Rocklin, CA, USA
The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. Everything was created through him; nothing – not one thing! – came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn\’t put it out. -John 1:1-5 (MSG)
I’m drawn, over and over again, to this name for Christ: Life-Light. If Jesus is Life-Light, then there is no more darkness that covers, no more shadow that hides. If Jesus is Life-Light then there is no more death, no more separation, no more decay of heart or mind or spirit. If Jesus is Life-Light, there is no more that keeps your heart from mine and my heart from yours. If Jesus is Life-Light, we cannot pretend we are alone or that we do not have a responsibility to care for even the most vulnerable among us.
All of that is for the darkness. And the Life-Light blazed out of such a darkness-and couldn\’t be extinguished. The Life-Light blazed.
Where have you seen light this past week? Where have you experienced the life of Christ this past week? Where have you experienced community? And love? Where has love shown itself to you this past week?
If your week has been like mine, it may be difficult to answer these questions. We are getting more and more tired every day-tired of being alone and lonely and being kept from our regular routine.
But consider this: What if our regular routine has drifted into our past and has become our story of “before”?
And what if out of this time, this “emerging now,” you begin to imagine what new life might look like? What if you begin to discern God’s dream for your life, and what if you look around to see where God is at work in the world? And then, what if you do something radical and wild and life-giving and move out into what will be next with an openness to try something new? To respond to what God shows you-what is right in front of you? And what if you discover a new way of being that brings peace and love to the world in ways you could have never imagined?
The Life is Light to live by.
It is yours to do that living.
May it be so.
Prayer Phrase
“Awake, my soul!” (Psalm 57:8)
Spiritual Practice
The Prayer of the Heart
Early Christian disciples desired to take seriously the scripture mandate to pray “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The prayer of the heart invites us to pray “continuously” by repeating and returning to a prayer phrase planted for intentional reflection and deepening. Choose a word or phrase (from scripture, hymnody, or personal reflection) that has meaning for you. The Jesus Prayer is one form of the prayer of the heart: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:35-43). Invite this simple phrase to repeat in your heart throughout the day, awakening your soul to God’s presence.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
