Sunlight through the Trees

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 1:1-14 ESV).

Several years ago as Mary and I drove the loop through Cade’s Cove in the Smoky Mountains in the fall, I happened to stop and look through the sunroof of our car. The view was spectacular. As the light filtered through the leaves that were turning various shades of green, red, orange, and yellow, I couldn’t help but think how clear and distinct they appeared the closer to the light they were. The fall colors were so much brighter than in the shadows. This reminded me of how true that is in our spiritual lives. The closer we are to the light of Jesus, the clearer everything becomes. Every shade of beauty is reflected through him. We are never more vibrant than when he uses his light to touch others through us. Harry Dixon Loes, who studied at the Moody Bible Institute and the American Conservatory of Music, was a musical composer and teacher, who wrote or co-wrote several gospel songs. One of those is the very familiar children’s song, “This Little Light of Mine.” The song has since entered the folk tradition, first being collected by John Lomax in 1939. Often thought of as a Negro Spiritual, it does not, however, appear in any collection of jubilee or plantation songs from the nineteenth century. Under the influence of Zilphia Horton, Fannie Lou Hamer, and others, it eventually became a Civil Rights Anthem in the 1950s and 1960s, especially the version by Betty Fikes. Regradless, it could easily become our personal anthem this Lenten season. There are those who live in the shadows of personal tragedy and trial who are merely waiting for us to bring the light we have received through Christ to their corner of the world. This is no ordinary light. Wherever it shines it has the power to overpower even the darkest of places. Let you light shine!