Parting Shot


News

By Eric Mattson

Light and shadow are both part of a compelling photo. Light illuminates and shadow defines. The blending of light and shadow yields depth and texture. Light plays a god-like role in photography. And yet while photos can’t be taken in total darkness, the existence of darkness makes the light comprehensible as more than a blown-out image. Scripture paints for us a tension between light and dark. While 1 John 1:5 tells us God is light and in God there is no darkness, we also read of “treasures of the darkness” in Isaiah 45:3. And in the first chapter of Genesis, there is both night and day as separate entities, ordained by God. How can we gaze into our inner shadows to learn more about ourselves or find beauty where we suffer painful losses or questioned beliefs? O God, grant us the ability to respond to reality and see value and beauty in ourselves and others.