COLUMN: Grey Matters – Light in the Light

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” —Maya Angelou.

Here’s the third and final instalment in our Dark/Light series. Light and darkness move continually through our days and seasons. Changing light and darkness each ask something different of us, and each reveals a different way of being human before God, ourselves, and others in this world. In ‘Dark in the Dark’ we talked about a darkness that is supportive, times of going deeper with ourselves, God, and then others. In ‘Light in the Dark’ we talked about how daily kindness and glow is better than bright glare. Today we will talk about ‘Light in the Light’. We move from sitting in the dark, to building a fire, and now to tending the fire.

Sometimes we need to take time to rekindle our lives before helping others more. We need to feed our light so that it does not burn out. To be kind to ourselves. The first part of Light in the Light is the practice of receiving goodness without guilt, knowing this is also a gift from God. Self-kindness, rest, and gratitude can sustain our light like adding logs to a fading fire. Sometimes we can get a bit stuck only giving to others. It can even feel good, or become our only posture. But without leaning on the help or care of others, our own caregiving capacity is weakened. Our light needs regular tending. When we honor the light, we honor the One who gave it.

The second part of Light in the Light is those times when we shine for others to be inspired. One of my favourite things in life is seeing someone who obviously was meant to do what they are doing, and they do it with gusto. It is a glorious sight. A sacred moment when the light in them is being irradiated by the Creator of light.

When it comes to the Bible, ‘Light in the Light’ can remind us of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego. King Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace roared with the confidence of empire, with flames meant to induce fear and submission to him instead of God. Three young men remained firm in their belief that God was more important than Nebuchadnezzar and in a fit of rage he had them thrown into the fire to die. Inside the fire, however, there was a gentler brightness at work. A fourth being appeared, a representation of God and stood with them. The damning fire did not consume their light; it revealed it. What was meant to destroy became a holy sanctuary, and what looked like death became communion. God did not rescue them from the fire but joined them within it, turning terror into testimony.

This is light in the light: a time when we live boldly in God’s presence for others to see by. When God walks with us in the fire, even suffering can become luminous, and faith is no longer something we simply defend but something we inhabit with Him. In a more positive sense, light in light is simply using our God-given gifts in a non-striving way that blesses others and glorifies the Giver.

To live fully in this world means moving back and forth between all three states. Dark in the Dark. Light in the Dark. Light in the Light. We need to be allowed to be real in our dark times, have glowing compassion and kindness in our hard days, and take time to bask in light. Through every season, God remains – steady, patient, and present – guiding us toward deeper understanding of ourselves and deeper love for one another. There is a time for Dark in the Dark, a time for Light in the Dark, and a time for Light in the Light. There is a time for everything.