Readings

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5

The path of our lives, our experience of life, work and relationships (despite our best efforts and preferred idealised outcome), rarely follows a straight line, with its order and certainty.

Meditation

John says that the light of God is the source of all life. At the core of creation, of the earth and of you and me is the light of God. And so we turn our attention to events, to art and poetry, to personal experience as well as to scripture to catch the light of the God within that we may receive and reflect his life. The Celtic spirituality writer Philip Newell relates in his book The Book of Creation this meditation on the light that is at the heart of life:

I saw myself walking further and further down a spiral staircase into the darkness of the earth. In my hand was a small candle that threw enough light for me to be able to see a few steps at a time. In the darkness I gradually became aware of a great fire of light that was deeper than the darkness. Eventually I saw that it was a roaring blaze and knew that the little light in my hand was a mere spark of the great fire to lead me to itself...'the central fire of the universe'.

Questions

In my story what is the candle? Where am I receiving the small light that leads to the fire of the universe? It might be books, acts of service, spiritual direction, relationships, nature prayer, discussion? What does tradition point to as sources of light?