Cloudy Sunrise

Sunbeams gleam across the field 
as the invisible orb rises, 
traced only by the way 
the clouded sky goes luminous, 
unable to completely mask the light. 

The grasses glow, lit by the current 
and transformed to green lampposts, 
arms lifted in silent praise. 
A breeze blows through, dancing them, 
unable to hold back from joining the joy. 


This morning I saw this happen in a different venue—I was no longer in my courtyard in Ferke, Côte d’Ivoire, where this poem sang itself onto paper. Now I am in the city of Detroit, with my third-floor “Skyhouse” window looking east. There were gray clouds hovering over the horizon. As the sun rose behind them, the edges of their dark shapes became gilded. Then suddenly rays of light were streaking into the gray and dawn became visible!

This reminds me of what it is like when the Light that is Jesus breaks through sorrow, anxiety or cultural barriers to bring hope. Have you seen that happen? When his Light shines on his people they reflect that light, like the arms of green grass that seemed like lampposts that morning. The actual light source may seem invisible but it still has impact through the objects on which it is shining.

At least that is what we Jesus followers are supposed to be like. Jesus himself said to his followers:

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16 CSB)

We are not to cover up the Light that has come to give us life! When Jesus was comforting the woman caught in adultery, whose male accusers had left one by one after Jesus confronted them with their own sins, he said this to her and everyone else listening:

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”  (Jn. 8:12 CSB)

Even that sinful woman could have that light if she turned from her wandering to follow Jesus! So those of us walking with him always have his light of life with us, even if the world around us is full of chaos and darkness. He lights up the path before us so that we know where to go and are protected from stumbling. This was a theme that Jesus kept bringing up. When his friend Lazarus was dying, and Jesus delayed going to heal him, he knew that he was going to reveal his own life-giving power. And the “night” that includes death would be lit up by his light:

Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ If anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.”  (Jn. 11:9-10 CSB)

Death does not rule us, Jesus does. When we are walking with him, we know that his light is with us all the way, through days of health and days of sickness, through peace or war or other danger. If we keep ourselves filled with his light, heart-eyes fixed on him, we are walking in the light.

That should make us stand out like the leaves of grass or city rooftops lit up when the sun rises. His light is in us, and this transforms us so that we become “the light of the world”! What does this mean? Jesus said not to hide this light that comes from him, but to show it “through your good deeds.”  This does not mean that we should boast about the ways he has used us, elevating our own goodness. Instead we are to share what will bring honor to our Father in heaven! All praise goes to him! We are to point out his fingerprints in each situation where we are led to help someone in distress, or to meet a need, or to love someone hard to love. These “good deeds” do not elevate us. Instead, they show the way the Lord works through his loved ones to shine his light on others. We are to find the appropriate avenues to be sure that he is honored.

There are thousands of blades of grass in a field. When they are all lit up togther, there is startling bright green that glitters and lifts each one toward the sky. When we work together in company with others who are shining Jesus’ light, we become like bright neon lights pointing Up. And in a bare space with just a little hand of grass sprouting, when we are in a dark place with little hope around, then that light is a beacon of hope to those who see it. Either way, we are only “the light of the world” when we are walking in the light, his light filling us and reflecting off us. Let’s shine!