In his essay, Meditations in a Toolshed, C.S. Lewis describes an experience that greatly affected him: “I was standing today in the dark toolshed. The sun was shining outside and through the crack at the top of the door there came a sunbeam. From where I stood that beam of light, with the specks of dust floating in it, was the most striking thing in the place. Everything else was almost pitch-black. I was seeing the beam, not seeing things by it.
“Then I moved so that the beam fell on my eyes. Instantly the whole previous picture vanished. I saw no toolshed, and (above all) no beam. Instead, I saw, framed in the irregular cranny at the top of the door, green leaves moving on the branches of a tree outside and beyond that, ninety-odd million miles away, the sun. Looking along the beam, and looking at the beam are very different experiences.”
C.S. Lewis saw first the “most striking thing in the place”–the beam of light. Then he changed his perspective and saw its source.
When I observe the world, I see a beam made up of relationships, beauty, nature, kind acts, wonder, love, and yes, sacrifice. All of humanity can see this beam, even those who don’t know Jesus. And for those willing to step into its light they see something more. They see the cross, and then beyond.
I hope this encourages you to look along the beam today.
-Kevin Murray
© 07/30/2013 All rights reserved