My friend Diana gave me a journal that she named, “I see you God.” It is a specific place to record moments when God seems to pull back the curtain of Heaven and address my world in ways that only He can. Some would think these things coincidental, but others know better.
This story found it’s way to my “I See You Journal” last February:
On my way to Rochester to lead worship on Sunday morning, I turned my iPod on and the song that happened to be next in line to play was Sara Groves “You are the Sun.” At that very moment, Highway 52 must have turned directly east because immediately the sunrise, at eye level, almost blinded me, shining directly on my face. The vizor was no help because the sun was too low on the horizon. I felt in my purse for my sun glasses and put them on, but still had to squint to see properly.
Sara sang: “You are the sun. I am the moon. I have no light of my own.”
The kindness of God reminded me that His light would never give up on me. If I turn my face to Him, I can receive everything that He is. I can’t manufacture light any more than the moon can on it’s own, but I can reflect His.
I shared this story with my worship team, and Scott, the bass player happens to be an astronomer. He informed me that the moon has only a 20% reflection capacity. It is, as Sara writes, “a cold, dark stone.” The dark rock is very reluctant to reflect anything, but it cannot possibly resist the brightness of the sun’s light and is obligated to shine down on the earth.
(How thoughtful of God to cause the rock of the moon to be dark so we can sleep without it’s light shining in our eyes.)
So whatever I need today that I can’t manufacture in and of myself (which is just about everything) – love, joy in difficult circumstances, praise when I’m feeling sad – I simply turn my face to Him, cry out to Him, believe in faith to soak in His light, and everything changes. I become a radiant light of whatever virtue I happen to need at any given moment.
“And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can’t be a light unless I turn my face to you”
~Sara Groves
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Father,
Shine Your light on my face today. I look to You for warmth and light. I want to see You more. I long to reflect Your face.
Amen.