One thing I love about late summer are the sunflowers, standing so tall and bright and cheery. I am intrigued by the way they track the sun across the sky. They remind me of the importance of looking for the light.
As we learned in elementary school science, light is critical for life as it is the main source of energy for all living things. Plants need light for photosynthesis to make food and produce oxygen. And light can heal, as we learned by putting our newborn baby girl, with a touch of jaundice, directly in a patch of sunlight each day.
A few years ago, I read an interesting little book called Mind the Light, by J. Brent Bill, a Quaker. The Quakers have a spiritual practice they call “minding the light” which he describes as learning to see God’s light inside us but also around us. He points out that they use the word “mind” to mean many things: heed, tend, notice, observe, and obey. He writes:
Minding the Light is an invitation to experience a new way of seeing that shows our brains and souls what to pay attention to. It’s a way of seeing our inner and outer lives with spiritual eyes and discovering the connectedness between inner and outer sight.
So, what might it look like to mind the light, in the midst of this difficult season? As Jesus teaches, “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.” Matthew 6:22, The Message
For many of us, wonder and belief don’t come easily. The Quakers (once referred to as “Children of Light”) encourage us to train our brains and our souls what to pay attention to. It’s developing a habit of looking at what is around you.
Bill encourages us to develop a practice of doing some “intense looking” for a few minutes every day. Start small. Looking closely at one little tomato growing on the vine, noticing its intricate design encourages me and reminds me of God’s care. Georgia O’Keefe, known for her large scale floral paintings said, “Nobody sees a flower really—it is so small it takes time—we haven’t time—and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
So, are there practices you do that help you mind the light? Perhaps it’s taking photos, creating art, or journaling your thoughts. Or perhaps there are people in your life that help you see? Little children can do this for us, as we watch them squat down to look at a caterpillar inching by. Or perhaps it’s people watching at the airport, noticing the variety of people in the world, and each one uniquely reflecting the image of God.
Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’d like to share!