Don’t worry, this is not a piece about near death experiences.

While thinking about the creation account in Genesis 1, I discovered that when God said, “Let there be light,” God was establishing the foundation for life. Life needs light. The same is true for relationships. The light helps us see ourselves. Other people can be a source of light for us. We can’t embrace others until we embrace ourselves. The faces of others reflect us to us. In 1 John 1:5-7 we read,

This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

If we embrace the light of God we will more clearly see ourselves. If we embrace our neighbor we will be revealed for who we are. It’s in that place that can find the life to live beyond ourselves. It’s not easy, but necessary, if we want the beauty of the life we have found in Jesus to be extended to and discovered by those around us. It’s not easy, but necessary if we want to our relationships to honor both God and those we love.

May we find the grace to love by embracing the light.

Grace and peace,

Brook