let the light shine

One of those scriptures which intrigues me is from Matthew as the wise men have seen the baby Jesus, it reads "they left for their own country by another road." Yesterday I spent the day driving 2 hours to Columbia and then 2 hours coming back home. Even though I literally was on the same road both ways, I traveled by what seemed another route. Going the sky was gray. It felt like one shade of gray and the gray surrounded everything. The trees, the grass, the hills, the valleys, the highway, everything was gray. The mist fell continuously which caused everything to blend together. It was one monochromatic blur with little form.

But on the way back, the sun broke through the clouds. The blue of the sky peeked through with bursts of light shining down. Suddenly the landscape was brillant with colors. Bright red, orange, yellow, gold, and purple leaves were seen on trees among the dark evergreens. Each tree was distinct standing on its own. The fields were shining with late crops and grasses. Even the clouds as they parted for the sun were many hues of gray. There was dark grays and light greys and white. As I traveled I delighted in the beauty of the creation and pondered how different everything looks with the light shining.

How often do we wander through life as if it is one gray blob? How often do we not see clearly each thing God bring before us because a gray mood blinds our eyes? If I understand the scripture, when the light of Christ shines on our lives, our eyes are illuminated to see clearly. We are able to see every person, thing, and opportunity without a veil over them . We are able to distinquish the beauty around us. We are able to travel by another route. I am so glad God took me home by another route yesterday. The path was breath-taking and breath-giving.