Angled Light

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The winter’s solstice is coming soon. I have heard people complain lately about the dark season. I am aware that there are those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder – it’s harder to get out of bed (especially before the sun rises), we feel tired and less enthused about our days. I know of people who go south this time of year just to feel some relief from the darkness; it hasn’t helped that it has been raining so much. Having recognized this, there is one thing I like about the December sky – the angle of light; the sun shines not from about but at an angle. This creates longer shadows and light that is more opaque and muted.

I love Impressionism because of the attention given to light; particularly Claude Monet. Recall his paintings of haystacks – he painted the same haystack numerous times only changing the angle of light. I am also fond of solo pianist, George Winston, particularly his CD entitled December. In a sermon recently I mentioned how I love Handel’s Messiah; solo piano is different. While the choir and orchestra blend many notes creating harmonies that lift and inspire, solo piano is about a succession of notes that includes the spaces between the notes. This stresses contrast – light and darkness, as if each single note was a sliver a light in the darkness. This sense characterizes Advent and Christmas for me.

This can be a SAD season. It is for that reason that I look for the slivers of light, the angled beam that piercingly illuminates; it does not dominate its voice is not loud. Where are those places where in the midst of darkness in our lives that the Spirit of God interjects a flake of wisdom? I often find myself just sitting in silence waiting for these moments. I bemoan the fact that preparing for Christmas dislodges any still time from our lives; preparing for Christmas has become the opposite of what waiting for Jesus was created to be. (Yes, I know I’ve said enough on that.) Yet, I still wish for all to experience the still small voice of this season – the angled light and the contrasted note; echoes of grace. P.Jim

P.S. The Son does not come from above but at an angle.

These photos were taken during the winter of 1982-1983 from around the small house in which I lived in Hokkaido, Japan. Obviously, they are pre-digital and had to be transferred – they are also old and show the effects of slides hanging out in a garage for many years. The colors faded so I converted them to black and white (sometimes black and white expresses light better).

Refiners Fire

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On the The Second Sunday of Advent, we hear readings from Malachi 3:1-4 describing the coming of Jesus as a “refiners fire” and from and Luke 3:1-14, which describes the teachings of John the Baptist. In both scriptures, we are encouraged to prepare actively, not to wait, but to prepare for the Lord’s coming by turning around our lives, giving and sharing with others. We are to look at the world differently and to take care of the poor.

Let My People In

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According to CNN, 31 states have said they do not want to welcome Syrian refugees. Never mind the fact that they don’t have the power to make that decision; it appears that the statements are politically motivated. The rhetoric surrounding the possibility of Syrian refugees entering our country has been vitriolic, Listening to it one would think that half of the refugees coming in are supporters of ISIS. But this is hardly the case.

Sometimes I think that if one shouts the loudest in America today people will think it’s the truth. We easily mix up what entertains us with what realties are; politicians summarily repeat untruths as if it didn’t matter. Recently I read that a fact checking organization determined that three candidates for president are lying over 60% of the time – I will let you guess who they are. And what many politicians, including the governors of 31 states have been doing is shouting a lot – and fear mongering. The truth is the refugees that would come into America are not those who are streaming into Europe; rather they would come from refugee camps in Jordan where they have been for a couple of years. They have been thoroughly vetted. The truth is, the terrorists who attacked Paris spoke in French; even now the danger of terrorism is more likely to come from the Molenbeeck neighborhood in Brussels than from Syrian refugees. In our country as well, a Planned Parenthood clinic is attacked resulting in three deaths, motivated, it seems, by fear mongering ire about a propaganda film. Who should we be afraid of? Yes, there is a chance that a refugee from Syria would instigate an act of terrorism. But the chance is relatively small in comparison with the rhetoric. Personally, regarding the safety of people in America I’m still far more concerned about lax gun laws.

I am also concerned about what it communicates to the world when out of misplaced fear we say we don’t want you. In the meantime, France is welcoming more refugees from Syria – that says we do not see this as a religious or cultural problem but a problem of fundamentalism and extremism. What do we, not only as Americans but as Christians want to say to the world? Protecting ourselves is most important? We don’t trust Muslims? After 9-11 we had an incredible opportunity to open our arms and hearts to the world – the world was with us, but what did we do? We invaded Iraq, one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in American history. Who are we? What face do we want to show the world? That we are afraid and are prejudice? What does the Bible say about how we deal with strangers and even enemies? I think God would be saying, Let My People In.

Finally, at this time in the same city that was attacked by terrorists, Paris another summit is taking place to deal with climate change. (When I was home for Thanksgiving looking again at my father’s books I saw one entitled Climate Change printed in 1989.) The reality is, climate change is much more threatening than Syrian refugees. Who are we as Christians and what do we want to say to the world? P.Jim