12 April 2009

The light of the world.

"Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world.'"
~ John 8:12

Today is Easter - Resurrection Sunday - and I want celebrate this light that has entered the world...my world. Today, I am struck with the fact that I've seen the literal light of God shine down on so many places in this world. I have seen the skies open up over Florence after one of the hardest rains. I've seen dots of crystal dance on the water in a New England bay, and greenish-goldenness highlight a single blade of grass in New Mexico. There is so much light around us, so much light to be captured. I think it's amazing we were given this light first in Christ Himself. And then we were given things like grass and sky and sea and people's faces, so we wouldn't forget. Oh God, I hope I never stop seeing it.

{For more, see The Perfect Time Of Day. And last year's post on Eastering.}


{rome, italy: vatican city}

{dallas, texas: SMU campus}

{florence, italy: sunset from piazza michaelangelo}

{india: peace city orphanage}

{dallas, texas: my livingroom}

{las mochas, new mexico}

{palos verdes, california: my and jen's shadows}

{manhattan beach, california}

{franklin, tennessee}

{dallas, texas: at the arboretum}

{clinton, new jersey: roadside harvest stand}

{kampala, uganda}

{nairobi, kenya: at new life orphanage}

{new york, new york: central park}

{east texas: blueberry farm}

{nashville, tennessee: centennial park}

{san antonio, texas: guadalupe river}

{nashville, tennessee: belmont campus rose garden}

{seaside, florida}

{maine: acadia national park}


{deer isle, maine}

{new york, new york: my and steven's shadows in central park}

{mackinac island, michigan}

{tuscany, italy}

{cinque terre, italy}

I watch this morning
for the light that the darkness has not overcome.
I watch for the fire that was in the beginning

and that burns still in the brilliance of the rising sun.

I watch for the glow of life that gleams in the growing earth

and glistens in sea and sky.

I watch for your light, O God,

in the eyes of every living creature
and in the ever-living flame of my own soul.

If the grace of seeing were mine this day

I would glimpse you in all that lives.

Grant me the grace of seeing this day.

Grant me the grace of seeing.


~ from Celtic Benediction by J. Philip Newell

7 comments:

Susan said...

oh my word, i love this stine. not only the way it got me thinking about the light, but the amazing pictures of all the ways you've witnessed it. BEAUTIFUL.

allison said...

Christine, What amazing pictures! Seeing your post was the perfect end of this Easter day. :) I saw your comment from the other day on my blog, and yes, we are living in the New Haven area. (In Orange, to be exact.) It's been quite the adjustment coming from Dallas...but so far, so good! And incidentally, as I was reading through some of your other posts the other day, the one about Nashville and places you've lived each playing a part in molding you was a huge encouragement to me...so thanks for sharing that. :) Hope you had a wonderful Easter!

jenni said...

I love this collection of light-filled photos, Stine. Happy Easter!

Ali O said...

wow. i LOVE the concept, and the pictures are beautiful!

The Morginskys said...

somehow i am just now reading this. i love it and it literally warmed me up {its cold here in st. louis}...i love the blueberry farm pic.

Victoria said...

Wow...that's very cool. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. I enjoy hearing what you are thinking :)

the bowlin family said...

you are A-MAZING, you know this right? seriously, your thoughts are inspiring and the photography- well it speaks for itself. thanks you. can we please have dinner or something soon??