Saturday, November 2, 2013

Let the sun shine in

"the people who walked in darkness 
Have seen a great light"
Isaiah 9:2


Did you hear the wonderful story of the town in Norway that now has sunlight?  It warmed my heart ~ so to speak. 

The town of Rjukan is located in a valley, between two mountains that are so high, that for seven months out of the year, the town gets no sunshine


photo credit: tnp.no

But things have changed.

Just two days ago, Rjukans (if that's what they are called) enjoyed the first ever wintertime sunshine in their town, after mirrors were installed on one of the mountaintops, to reflect the light into the town square.

photo credit: bbc.co.uk

Now, I live in sunny Southern California, and if there's one thing we're in danger of taking for granted, it's the sunRain is an endangered thing around here.  As a matter of fact, on days that start out cloudy, the kids and I are often rooting against the sun, hoping for the clouds to stick around.  We like the change of pace.

But living under a sky full of clouds is different than looking up at blue sky, on a sunny day, yet being unable to get out of the shade you're in.

For seven months out of the year, they live in shadow.  Can you imagine?  Missing the light and the warmth and the growth that comes from the sun.

As long as I live in Southern California, I don't think I'll ever stop appreciating cloudy days, simply because they are the exception.  But it will be a long time before I go back to being ungrateful for the warmth and light of the sun.

~ "He brought them out of darkness
and the shadow of death,
    and broke their chains in pieces." ~
Psalm 107:14
~

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