The True Light

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. John 1:1-18

We are resting in Seattle between flights back to Sitka. Our daughter Emily bravely drove us to the airport before the sun was inching up. We said our tearful goodbyes and began the long road home. It is hard to leave our family behind on the East Coast as we fly back to Alaska. It is hard to be separated by miles when we are so bound together in love. As the sun came up and we climbed into the clouds, I was thankful for the sunshine and the light. And for love that spans time and miles.

The beginning of John's gospel is different tan all the others. Although we find out in the others who Jesus was related to, we find out at the beginning of John the nature of his relationship to God. He is the one who is God's light and carried it into the world. He is the heart of God, the word made flesh and carried God's love into the world. Across time and space, we find out that he is the one who binds us all together in relation to God, and we are wrapped in the light of God, that love which is fearless and ferocious, constant and without limits.

Today, as we travel, may we remember how loved and blessed we are, and give thanks for the light and love we are wrapped in this day. May we find ways to cherish everyone we love, appreciating all the wonderful gifts they bring to the world. And may we trust Christ to bring us ever closer to God's love, that ferocious and constant light which surrounds us all.