Light is not the absence of darkness, but instead it is the addition of light that separates the darkness. This doesn’t sound like a difference, but before light is introduced, darkness is a vast and empty void. The glimmer of light allows the unseen to be visible, the cold is warmed, and hope can cast a shadow on fear.
After the loss of a loved one, we often hear their light was extinguished. Often in the early days of our loss we feel this as a removal of light, and we are left in the darkness, the empty and cold void of grief. We find ourselves searching for light, something to help us find our way out of the dark void. Sometimes we don’t want to see the light, and we want to curl up in our cold and lonely grief.
I attended a bereavement retreat recently, and the light versus the darkness was a bit of the theme. As I usually do, I came home and reflected on this idea. While the retreat focused on the light from my child and the light I should pursue to remove me from the darkness, I felt there was possibly a much deeper perspective to take this notion, and I had to come home and dive deeper into the Christian ideals that follow the same theme.
I began with a search for biblical references to light and darkness specifically. I was taken to a dozen or more verses, primarily in John and Isaiah (I will explain this significance for me momentarily), that referred to light and darkness. The very first mention of light and darkness are in Gen1:1-4 though. When God created the heavens and the earth (the universe and our planet), it was void, vast, and dark. He created light to separate the darkness. The light was good, and He was pleased.
Thinking about this light and its purpose, I find this is a significant place to start. God created the heavens and the earth, and it was dark. Why didn’t he create it filled with light from the beginning? Why was it important to create the void then ADD the light? I think this is profound and has meaning.
In Isaiah 60:1-3, it says that “the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” In Isaiah 42:16, it says that “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know. In path they do not know, I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them. And rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone.” Isaiah 50:10 says. :who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the the name of the Lord and rely on his god.” Isaiah 58:8, “then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. “
The new testament is filled with light and darkness scripture in John 1:5 “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”, John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”, and 1John 1:5, ” God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all”.
How are these words of hope for one who is grieving immensely? God created the light before He created me. He made an alternative to the deep vast void of pain as hope and restoration for my broken spirit. He could have created this earth to have no darkness, but He didn’t. He instead created a way for us to be separated from the darkness. His light will stand as a beacon to lead us out of the darkness, even while we cannot see. It will be like dawn, with the light gently cresting on the horizon until it is fully visible. Emerging from darkness, we are unable to bear the full intensity of bright light, and in our grief, we must gently be introduced to the light of life in a slow yet fluid movement.
I imagine this as we emerge from the darkness of our saddest journey, that we are crawling out of the darkest hole after the longest night of pain and suffering. As we crawl out, we are greeted with the gentle sunrise at the break of dawn. As the light grows, we adjust and emerge. We still carry the memories from the darkest parts of our days, but we are grateful for the light we look forward. There are times the intensity is so great we must look back to the cold vast space we occupied, but we steadily move forward. Eventually we are able to walk upright toward the light, energized with each delicate step, warmed by the rays that reach us as individual points of light. And while we start each day in light, there are days where the light is not as bright, doesn’t last as long, and even some days that we feel there is no bright light to shine for us. Yet, we learn the light will shine again. Soon, we begin to anticipate the return of the light.
In the New Testament, the light is promised for eternity through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is the light. He promises the eternal light of heaven, which I feel is the only place that truly outshines any darkness. Darkness doesn’t travel, but light does. In scientific terms, light travels infinitely in rays and intensity. Darkness does not travel, and it cannot be created, only illuminated. Light has to be removed or added to change darkness. Darkness cannot be found in the space occupied by the origin of light.
I believe where my girls are there is only light. It is a space completely illuminated so not darkness is found. There are no dark corners for my girls to tuck away to feel pain, guilt, shame, hurt, regret, or suffering. With that, I don’t believe they can see what we are doing here, this place created in darkness that light is needed to illuminate it. I know my Savior is the the reason they are in the light and we will join them.
A chaplain friend said that light is not extinguished, but it is rather changed. When it is removed, there is still the remnant light, the smoke from a flame, or the warmth from the heat generated. Thinking back to science, light is a wave that travels. It travels faster than other waves, such as sound. We often refer to our children as our light. Candle lightings are hard for bereaved parents, as they poignantly represent the life we created, caressed, and nurtured.
As we began school this year, we started back at Genesis 1, and the very first thing God did was divide the darkness with light. This light makes visible all the unseen, scary, and dismal areas of the world. The light provides warmth, brings renewal each day, and allows us to focus on life rather than navigate through the dangers that lurk in the darkness. The light is also essential to life, all living creatures on the land and in the sky must have light to survive, grow, mature, and regenerate. We pointed out that God gave Adam dominion over the animals of the land and sky, and he was authorized to name them. Noah was told to take at least two of all land and sky animals (seven of some species) onto the ark, but he was not instructed to take animals of the water.
The very first thing God gave us was light, He separated the darkness for us. He did not eliminate the darkness, but He did ILLUMINATE it. Scripture uses the symbolism of light throughout scripture as a symbol of hope. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet Psalm 119:105. There are over 65 verses in the bible about Light. God is a light, we are light, His word is a light. The process of illumination brings faith and squashes fears.
Are you in the dark? Can you feel the light in the world? Where do you turn to find Hope and illumination in your life?