EDGES MAGAZINE Issue 28

January 2002

Where is the light?

Philip Topman is part of the T.H.O.M.A.S. Team

A meditation inspired by the books of Holy Scripture from the First & Last by Milton & Edwin Muir

Where is the light?
First called into being by the Divine fiat
Which in a frenzy of love banished uncomprehending darkness
And brought forth Cosmos from primeval Chaos.

That light in which our first forbears bathed in naïve innocence in the groves of the original garden
until their fall propelled them into outer darkness
their return partitioned by a watching angel’s fiery sword.

Where is the light?
Wafted into beams by the wings and voices of angels
Becoming a veritable star rising in the East to Bethlehem
Down whose rays leapt the Word uttered by the Divine breath
To save our fallen race
the voice of God become the voice of a baby crying from a stable in the winter darkness
joining its creation to save it
and with the Good Word light the way
of the sure narrow path back home through the darkness.

But a thousand years went by
And yet another thousand and the path is very hard to find
Humanity stumbles over the shards of a broken world
Gashed by the jutting edges of broken dreams, broken promises, broken lives, broken homes, broken hearts
So that despite the Saviour’s coming
Here, now, even today
The four terrible riders plough their discordant furrows of desolation across the world
War, famine, pestilence and death
The sight of people dimmed, and their voices choked with tears of disillusion, greed, envy and pride
Where is the light in all of this darkness?
has it vanished forever?

No, here is the light, it flickers a little still, dimly it is true, but constant
For it glows in the hearts of souls
And glows a little brighter in the midwinter darkness
When at Christmas time loyal hearts thankfully reflect
That the One who made all things became not only one of us
But also made us all His brothers and sisters

So that, hopefully – in time – all hearts will burn with such a light
Fanned not now by angels’ wing and voices
But by true souls carolling songs which never resounded in the first garden
Songs of hope, compassion and love borne through adversity and sacrifice
And bathing themselves in the new found innocence
Of experience triumphing over difficulty
Until they make the world itself a realm of light
Yes a veritable star itself whose rays will mirror back
Conveying praise and thanks, easily passing the flaming sword to the place of eternal day
And daring to address the Uncreated Word cry out
Glory to God in the highest
And to all on earth forever – peace
To which all in heaven will reply in unison with one great
Amen, may it be so.


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