“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.“ “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 5:14,16
For some reason, the translation of my voice texting comes out with the word (Sunshine) capitalized and in parentheses, and it makes me smile…. and wonder. Is that how we live? Is cheerfulness measured or guarded, doled out to only those we deem deserving? Is a bright attitude parenthetical and dependent on circumstances, or joy an afterthought? Is shining light only an (occasional) Formal action rather than a lowercase, stream-of-the-mill, tucked-into-my-everyday-living response to other image-bearers, and to the bounty God gives?
I think, too, how the sunshine is sometimes obscured in the clouds, tucked away like words in parentheses, yet we know its warmth and light and power are there. It still adds meaning and has a purpose. When the clouds are snow- laden and heavy, the hidden sun still keeps the earth on course. I don’t want the light to be hidden, but know it exists when I see it not, and that’s a benefit to parenthetical (Sunshine)- heightened awareness of the faith required to trust the unseen.
LORD my light, when matters out of my control seem to squelch the light, please be gracious and make Your face shine on me, that I may be an unreserved, blazing sun full of your fire, reflecting Your glory. (Psalm 27:1; 67:1)
As the rain and snow 