teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all humankind’ (Job 12:7-10).1 Creation is still good. God created light so we can see, but light also enables plants, humans, and animals to grow. There is an interconnectedness to light for all of creation. Yet, God also created darkness. There are many creatures that come out only in darkness. Nocturnal animals that thrive and survive in darkness. There are creatures in our deep oceans that never see light. Strange and often frightening creatures that God created too. Humans need darkness as well to sleep and rest; to re-create. This balance between light and darkness is not by chance. It is as God intends it to be. Light and darkness can be used metaphorically as well. We enter light when we experience something new and transforming. A religious experience can be described as having ‘seen the light’. The New Testament speaks of Jesus being the light of the world, ‘the true light coming into the world’ (John 1:9). Jesus is the light by which we see the world (John 8:12). It is through his eyes that we get perspective and see the world, the people of the world, the created order, as God intended it – as good. Darkness can also represent those aspects of creation that disturb us. We can be plunged into darkness that can mean, for many, a sense of loss and grief. Aboriginal people, with all Indigenous people from around the world, have experienced moments of utter darkness. Yet there is a resilience borne from this darkness. It is part of who we are. I am beginning to understand what the Psalmist is suggesting: 1 I was reminded of this important text very recently by Brooke Prentis, an Aboriginal minister and theologian. I thank her for the gift. 15
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