Light

The bright late afternoon sun shines ever so brightly into the eyes as the descent down the hill begins. It is a walk that one picks up momentum due to the steep incline. People pass by and there's pandemonium all around as the frantic rush begins to get to class on time, caught up in the details of everyday life. They fight the hill as they strain and push to reach the top; yet with many things to weigh them down, it does not prove to be an easy task. I look around myself and wonder why I seem to be the only one going downhill while everyone else seems to go up, and still I wonder why I can't see people clearly at all, for the sun blinds me so severely. The details on their faces are softened from far away, yet as they near, the harshness becomes more rigid. Lines of life are engraven upon their face and it becomes ever so severe and harsh, you can see the struggles, fears, disappointments that have riddled their story. Why are their backs turned on such magnificent light that illuminates all it faces? Still I press on down the hill, picking up ever more momentum as the light blazes.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60:1-3).
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:1-3).