Dark and Light: A Creative Tension

by Mary Keen, M.Div., LMFT

612.332.7743 ext. 220
mkeen@wpc-mpls.org

Evening settles in early these days. Morning takes its time dancing across the sky. The season of darkness and little light is upon us. We're living literally in the pull between darkness and light. Darkness seems to be winning, but time progresses, the earth continues to spin, and light slowly takes the upper hand.

We tend to fear the darkness, but because of night we know starlight, we experience renewal, vivid dreams, renewed strength. Light is the time of activity and vision, movement and clarity but light can blind us, burn us or exhaust us. When we suspend judgment we are more able to experience the power of each.

For centuries, this is the time people pull together through the darkness to celebrate the light in our midst, to lessen our fear of the encroaching night. People pull together along family ties, beneath neighborhood street lights, or across town friendships. How is it that when we gather together, whether family or friends, the light somehow shines a bit brighter, stronger, longer? Maybe it is just for a moment...a hug at the door, a prayer before the meal, a laugh that sparks joy, a tear that confirms love. Just for a moment, darkness slips, releasing its strength to refract the Light.

And yet it is often in the darkness, when the world seems silent, the depth of life sinks in. Stillness draws us to peer into a silent snowfall to witness its unique complex beauty short life. A quiet candle flame slowly releases invisible heat, and pulls us to stare in fascination the unpredictable dance. Just for a moment, darkness reveals its secrets.

Light and dark....uneven, unpredictable and unfinished. Dark and light...opposites, powerful and playful.  May this season of shrinking light reveal mysterious secrets of wonder, awe and promise made known to us in Christ.