Does anyone else have a slight dread of the summer solstice? Even though June 21 marks the beginning of a season associated with fun, sun, rest, vacation, gardens, ice cream, and the beach, it also signifies the lessening of light, or shortening of days. There’s something so uplifting when both the mornings and evening are filled with light at this time of year. I think I’m not the only one who is a little bit saddened by the knowledge that the daylight hours are getting a little bit shorter as summer progresses.
It’s no secret that people are generally happier in the summer months. Many studies have been done showing that moods are lighter and even physical health improves for many people when we have more daylight hours. If it’s so obvious that our bodies need light, it should also be obvious that our souls need light. If the natural light of the sun, one of God’s first creations, even affects our souls, think how much more power comes from the light that is God?
Father Mark Toups, a priest from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, and author of Ascension Press’s Oremus study on prayer, makes an eye-opening observation about our relationship to the light. He says that, as Christians, we always have the light of Christ shining on us. However, sometimes, when we fail to pray or give God the attention we should, we remove ourselves from the realm of light. In other words, we step outside of the scope of the rays and find ourselves in darkness.
This process of our souls moving in and out of the light is much like the natural seasons and phases of the earth in relation to the sun. God’s creation of the earth mirrors the creation of man. At times, certain parts of the earth are turned away from the light of the sun, giving us day and night, all the while rotating around the sun, shortening and lengthening days throughout the year. Likewise, we all have ups and downs in the spiritual life, bringing us in and out of the light that God shines on us.
Too often, our human tendency is to blame God when we can’t see the light. Sometimes we wonder, maybe even angrily, why God has taken his light away. But, as Father Toups points out, God is light, and wherever he is, there is always light. It is always us, in our weak human nature, through sin and distraction, who step further and further away from the source of light until we are so far away that we can longer see.
Sometimes, says Father Toups, God focuses his light on one aspect of our life. If that point of focus is something that makes us uncomfortable, or is something we would rather not focus on, we tend to turn away from that brightness and choose to sit in the darkness. He notes the root of the word “consolation,” which means “with the light,” and subsequently, “desolation” which means, “without the light.” Times of both consolation and desolation will come to everyone, but if we recognize that it is not God who is depriving us of light, we can better respond to times of desolation.
How do we make sure we stay in the realm of light? Father Toups says to always keep open that line of communication between you and God, otherwise known as prayer. “The next time that nothing is happening and [you think] God’s not doing anything, ask God what He wants to show you,” says Father Toups. “Ask God, where’s the light? That requires that we let go of control and, of course, trust that God is there.”
Staying close to God, the source of light, requires we pray regularly, since that is how we converse with God. We have direct connection with God through the sacraments of the Church, especially frequent Mass and confession. Reading Scripture is also essential to understanding God’s communication with us. Living out the beatitudes is another way to let the light of Christ shine in our lives and in the lives of those around us. The Church gives us many options to help us live in the light. Turn your face towards the sun this summer and let these light-filled days be a constant reminder of our quest to stay in the rays of God’s light.
Lazzuri lives in Nova Scotia, with her husband, six children, and her mom. She can be reached at clarelazzuri@gmail.com.
