Darkness, Illuminator

The dark, historically, has, entirely understandably, had a difficult reputation. But looking out early this morning on a beautiful crescent moon, laying 'on its back' was an exquisite reminder that without the dark humanity would have found it much more difficult to uncover the mysteries of the universe.

Darkness, Illuminator

Paradox!

It is darkness that illuminates

the panoply of the universe.

Daytime, that gift of the sun’s light

allows us to see the wonders of this world

and to revel in its glories.

But it is the absence of that light

that  draws us into the exquisite realms

of the deep terrain of the universe.

O my Lord and my God

help us to be fascinated by the work of your hand;

in the sweep of the arcs of the night

and the mystery that goes

unfathomably far beyond

the glories of our modest galaxy.

There is a further short prayer that has a similar theme at Prayer for Understanding