LETTUCE

Darkness

Two Sundays ago I went to Gosforth to preach. I left early in the morning to be there comfortably for 09.00h. This meant I was on the road soon after 05.00h and saw a massive, tumbling column of flame high in the sky above Nottingham. It was not like a shooting star more like a fireball of flame travelling northwards high in the sky.

There is a good graphic of this at
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/blobrana/news/leonids.html



I later heard an astronomer on BBC Radio 5 talking about this. He pointed out that when you get away into areas with little artifical light you can see hundreds of these trails as the comet dust trail hits our atmosphere and the whole effect can be quite beautiful and moving, apparently.

There was a connection with what I was going to say at All Saints, Gosforth. It is sometimes only in the darkness of our weakness or when we are able to remove away from the bright lights of westernism that we are in a place where the subtle beauties of God can be seen. The kingdom of God may be easier for a little person to see that a giant intellect. I little child may see it when the wise and degree laden struggle.

People complain that they cannot see God. Perhaps a little more silence might help us to see. Some of us affirm that in gentleness, simplicity, darkness, weakness and in the little faith of mustard-seed nature there is a different kind of sight, and God is there.

posted by Colin Darling @ 6:19 AM