Skip the ads and Let the Sunshine In, a classic version.
You may have read about the small Norwegian town of Rjukan (pronounced roo-kahn) which was in the news a few years ago. Situated between steep mountains, for six months every year the little town is shrouded in semi-darkness as the great peaks cast their shadows over the terrain below. And during the winter months, the only way the residents of the town can get a dose of sunlight is to take a cable car ride to the top of a nearby ridge. That is, until one cold October day when the entire village assembled to witness a miraculous event -- for the first time ever faint rays from the winter sun reached the town’s market square!
But how did it happen? What brought the town out of the shadows and into the light?
Believe it or not, a local artist devised a plan to install three giant mirrors high on the mountain. The solar-powered, computer-controlled mirrors steadily track the movement of the sun across the sky, reflecting its rays down onto the square and bathing it in bright sunlight. And now, finally, Rjukan has found its place in the sun!
On that October day, to mark the occasion of the mirrors' dazzling debut, a band performed the popular song, “Let the Sunshine In.” The cheering town's people -- some on beach chairs and donning sunglasses -- watched that first moment as the sun crept from behind a cloud to hit the mirrors and reflect down onto their families, neighbors, and friends below.
Said one woman who witnessed that first light, “Before when it was a fine day, you knew that the sky was blue, and you knew that the sun was shining. But you couldn’t quite see it. It was very frustrating. And now this feels warm," she beamed. "It will be lovely to come out for an hour and feel this warmth on my face.”
Very soon we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus -- the moment of passage from the Old Testament Tradition to the New. And as we hear the Lord Jesus proclaimed as the "Light of the World," we remember that all through our religious history the symbol of light has been used to symbolize the Divine.
We anticipate with joy the coming of Christmas. When the Christmas Season comes around, we are attracted to the Light of Christ. We find comfort in the sunshine of Christmas goodwill. But when the holy day is over, we tend to put the Christmas Spirit back on "hold" again. And in so doing, we thwart the very purpose of Christmas. In giving His Son as the Light of the World, God's purpose is to transform us into children of light, giving us the power to radiate His Love from moment-to-moment, and for a lifetime.
At the conclusion of a seminar conducted by the Greek Philosopher, Doctor Alexander Papaderos, someone asked: “Doctor Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?” The usual laughter followed, and people started to leave. Papaderos held up his hand and stilled the room. “I will answer your question,” he said. Then, he brought out a very small round mirror, about the size of a quarter, saying ...
Are we prepared to search for the Light of the World through the darkness of tears, fears, heartaches and disappointments? Are we prepared to let the Light flow into every crevice of our soul so intensely that it will radiate into our households, and beyond into the neighborhood and the world?
A little girl was visiting a beautiful cathedral with her aunt. It was late afternoon and the sun’s rays were streaming through a stained-glass window that featured the figures of several saints. The little girl pointed to one of the figures standing out in the strong light and asked, “Who is that?” “That’s Saint Peter,” the aunt replied. Then pointing to another, the girl asked who that one was. “That’s Saint John,” was the reply.
When she pointed to still another she was told, “That’s Saint James.” Then, with a sigh of satisfaction, the little girl said, “Well, now I know what a saint is. A saint is somebody the light shines through.”
Christmas is just a few days away. We can begin today to let the light of the Lord shine through as we offer the peace of the Christ Child to our families and neighbors -- wherever they may be? Why not begin today to journey step-by-step to where the Light of the World is leading us? Why not begin today to light up the world with the love that is flowing into every crevice of our souls!
On that October day, to mark the occasion of the mirrors' dazzling debut, a band performed the popular song, “Let the Sunshine In.” The cheering town's people -- some on beach chairs and donning sunglasses -- watched that first moment as the sun crept from behind a cloud to hit the mirrors and reflect down onto their families, neighbors, and friends below.
Said one woman who witnessed that first light, “Before when it was a fine day, you knew that the sky was blue, and you knew that the sun was shining. But you couldn’t quite see it. It was very frustrating. And now this feels warm," she beamed. "It will be lovely to come out for an hour and feel this warmth on my face.”
Very soon we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus -- the moment of passage from the Old Testament Tradition to the New. And as we hear the Lord Jesus proclaimed as the "Light of the World," we remember that all through our religious history the symbol of light has been used to symbolize the Divine.
We anticipate with joy the coming of Christmas. When the Christmas Season comes around, we are attracted to the Light of Christ. We find comfort in the sunshine of Christmas goodwill. But when the holy day is over, we tend to put the Christmas Spirit back on "hold" again. And in so doing, we thwart the very purpose of Christmas. In giving His Son as the Light of the World, God's purpose is to transform us into children of light, giving us the power to radiate His Love from moment-to-moment, and for a lifetime.
At the conclusion of a seminar conducted by the Greek Philosopher, Doctor Alexander Papaderos, someone asked: “Doctor Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?” The usual laughter followed, and people started to leave. Papaderos held up his hand and stilled the room. “I will answer your question,” he said. Then, he brought out a very small round mirror, about the size of a quarter, saying ...
Are we prepared to search for the Light of the World through the darkness of tears, fears, heartaches and disappointments? Are we prepared to let the Light flow into every crevice of our soul so intensely that it will radiate into our households, and beyond into the neighborhood and the world?
A little girl was visiting a beautiful cathedral with her aunt. It was late afternoon and the sun’s rays were streaming through a stained-glass window that featured the figures of several saints. The little girl pointed to one of the figures standing out in the strong light and asked, “Who is that?” “That’s Saint Peter,” the aunt replied. Then pointing to another, the girl asked who that one was. “That’s Saint John,” was the reply.
When she pointed to still another she was told, “That’s Saint James.” Then, with a sigh of satisfaction, the little girl said, “Well, now I know what a saint is. A saint is somebody the light shines through.”
Christmas is just a few days away. We can begin today to let the light of the Lord shine through as we offer the peace of the Christ Child to our families and neighbors -- wherever they may be? Why not begin today to journey step-by-step to where the Light of the World is leading us? Why not begin today to light up the world with the love that is flowing into every crevice of our souls!
I'm sure you know the feeling. Don't hold it back!
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