In Darkness, Light

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:5-8)

We often read Isaiah's call noticing only the beauty and grandeur of that awe inspiring scene, but we ignore or are unaware of the reality that faced Isaiah and the people of faith. On the brink of war and desolation of land, culture and faith, life was turbulent and the future uncertain. With this backdrop in mind, Isaiah's majestic vision seems out of place - laughable, even. Or perspective shifting: the depth of our tribulations pales in comparison to the greatness of God. Isaiah was called into the darkness and, encouraged that God would purify him as he spoke, he agreed (volunteered) to go. With God’s help Isaiah would go on to speak truth to power and to a people of wavering faith and faithfulness while giving them hope in the God who would never leave them.

The purpose of Isaiah's faithful witness in tumultuous times was not to forecast the future, but to speak of God's active power and presence in the midst of what felt like overwhelming darkness. We too are called, not just to bask in the glory of mountaintop experiences, but to receive the light of Christ into our troubled hearts and carry that light into our troubled world. Seek the Light, receive the Light, shine the Light.

May our witness cast shards of Light into the darkness - piercing unjust hearts (including our own) and illuminating the way forward for all. In darkness, light!

5 And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said,

"Here am I; send me!" (Isaiah 6:5-8)