A Stained Glass Window - From Both Sides
A lesson from light
I was fortunate enough to see the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi twice over the last two days. Once was on my first evening in Santa Fe, which I learned is actually named Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asis or Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi. Santa Fe definitely rolls off the tongue a bit easier.
As I enjoyed a walk around the labyrinth, I would pause and look up at the large stained glass window. I was reminded that stained glass at night is not always beautiful. If the lights are off inside the building, the intricate beauty, and maybe a lesson of faith, is unseen. During the 2020 pandemic we found out that a nurse loved stopping at our church parking lot after her shift and sitting in front of our large stained glass window for prayer. It was a beacon of hope. But it could only be so when we remembered to provide a source of light. We had the power to make the window shine. It brought to mind this passage…
“You are the light of the world…Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house…Let your light shine….” Matthew 5:14-16
Today I returned to the cathedral and was able to go inside. I walked down the aisle and eventually turned around to see the window in all its daytime glory. And I was struck that the source of light was not from within as it had been last night. It came from a greater source, the Creator. And God sent a source of light like no other.
“Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12
Our world experiences darkness in a variety of ways. But we have an amazing source of light - Jesus. We see a reminder of that vividly on a sunny day through a stained glass window. It’s a bit more difficult on dark days.
And in the darkness, I am reminded that the light others may need might come from within me, just as it does from within churches who shine the lights, even at night. Many may never find their way into a church…to come to know the ultimate source of light…if I myself don’t shine forth a light that shows them a little glimpse of a brighter way. I have some work to do to be more faithful in this way of living. And I’m grateful for a reminder of this faith lesson while on the move across our country. May we all be at work together to be lights and to share the Light.
I love stained glass windows in churches. Beautiful one, Jenny. Thank you for shining!
Your writings today reminded me of something that we talked about at our first women’s conference meeting this year. Not sure who said it but impressed me enough to write it down on a paper by itself. “The only way to share the light is to pass it on.” Maybe we could work that into the theme for the conference. Food for thought.