Burning and Shining Lamp

He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. John 5:35

I woke up this morning to a darkened sky and bright flakes of snow falling from the sky. We had heard last night that we might have a few flurries, but the ground was already covered and the roads looking a little chancy. The snow is clumped up on leaves and branches, and still coming down in a steady stream. The car head lights bounce off the snow and the sun is muted in the sky. The day is beautiful and gentle with subtleties of light and sound. This kind of snow makes the world seem profoundly different, if but for a moment.

Jesus is talking about the witness of John and comparing their radiance. Each reflected the glow of the Creator, of God's brilliant and constant love for the world which is embedded in and yet beyond creation. His disciples and those listening were confused and wanted to know who the right person was to follow. We know more of the complete story and understand the complexity of the relationship of John to Jesus. But the folks in their time, well, they felt themselves in the midst of a storm with the world changing around them. They couldn't see clearly for there were so many sources of light - or so it seemed.

Today, I want to embrace the world in it's difference today and delight in the changes in light and sound. I want to understand God profound capacity to be within creation and beyond creation as well. I want to marvel and delight in the work of God today. May God's love, new every morning, be real and profound today for us all.