My mother used to encourage us out of bed in the mornings with a brisk opening of the curtains and the words, “Rise and shine” and it took me a long time to discover that she was quoting the Bible; Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come.”
I’m one of those who find rising and shining to be somewhat tedious effort in the winter. I would happily hibernate until the longer, warmer days of spring. I’m guessing that it’s how ancient people felt, as they struggled through the dark and cold months, conserving food and energy as much as they could.
Light brings blue skies and sunshine, warmth, activity, productivity, creativity. There is work to do, food to grow, fun to seek out; festivals and fairs, holidays and outings.
No wonder so many spiritual metaphors use the image of light or enlightenment, of shunning darkness, embracing knowledge and wisdom, or looking for new hope. God is light; to be without God is to be in the dark. And just as the sun and rain are there for the good and the bad (Matthew 5:45), God’s light shines for all.
Isaiah’s words came to people who had lived for many years in the shadow of military defeat and oppression; he encouraged his audience to look for God in the darkness and to look forwards in hope. Change was coming. Perhaps those are words we all need sometimes. Arise. Shine. Light is here.
Kim Tame is a member of Wokingham Methodist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
