Forty years ago, Barbara and I led a Bible study at Tom Brown’s house in West Hartford. Their young son had never been in the country until he visited Tom’s family in Pennsylvania. When the young boy looked up into the night sky, he saw stars for the first time. “What are those Daddy?” When Tom shared that story I realized for the first time the problem light pollution was posing for our generation. A 2016 National Geographic article reported that 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way.
During the Ash Wednesday service at our church tonight, the pastor told about two Colorado towns (Westcliffe and Silver Cliff) that have purposely lowered their lesser lights at night in order to see the greater lights of the sky. She encouraged us to lower our lesser lights during this Lenten season in order to see the greater Light. Tame them if you will. Those lesser lights that distract us; that make us anxious; that we obsess about; that cause us to stumble; those burdens we take upon ourselves.
I was reminded of the lyrics of Keith and Kristyn Getty’s song Still, My Soul be Still.
Do not be moved
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows
Join me in making this a prayer this season preparing for Resurrection Sunday.
Jesus, help us to still our soul; to not be moved by the lesser lights and fleeting shadows, that we might see You, the greater Light who has come into this world.
Yes, those distracting lower lights. Thanks for this Helpful story.