Reflected Glory

“The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.”    John 17:22

I enjoy watching the sunset whether from my porch, a chair in the yard or at the beach.  Some nights the sunset is filled with brilliant colors that take your breath away, and other nights the colors are subtle with a quiet rest to the day.  One night as the sun began to set a dark cloud was around the sunset and I thought no colors would shine this evening.  But I turned around and looked in the east and the sky was a brilliant deep pink.  The sun had reflected above the darkness to bring intense colors across the sky.  This experience has happened several times over the past weeks.  I began to ponder what God was telling me each evening in the closing of the day.  The Holy Spirit has revealed within me meaning to these sunsets.

When we look at the sky and only see the darkness, it is the same with our lives.  Sometimes we only see the darkness, the loneliness, the sadness, the grief, the fear, the anger, the hurt.  We see no hope and no possible way to live and find joy in life.  When we only focus on the death and dying, all we feel and experience is darkness and despair.  The darkness and longing for our loved one will always be in our hearts.  Nothing takes that away.  We learn to live with it.  But when we change our focus and turn around, the darkness reflects the glory and presence of God and our loved one in our lives.  The darkness brings something different into our lives.  We did not choose the darkness, but it is present.  It is allowing the darkness of grief to change us and find meaning in the different. 

The word “glory” has been my word these past weeks.   I have been pondering the meaning of glory.  Throughout Scripture, God’s glory is revealed through the face of Moses, in the temple, the angels sang “Glory to God” at the birth of Jesus, and Jesus prays before his arrest that He gives to His disciples His glory.  Last night as we were watching the sun begin to set, in the sky was a “hole” between the clouds that seems to be a window into Heaven.  Jerry said, “That’s God’s glory.”  Glory is God’s physical presence revealed to us in so many ways. 

I believe Jesus gives to us His glory which is the physical reminder of His presence with us.  Jesus’ spirit – the Holy Spirit – lives within us and the glory is the outward expression and visual reminder that Jesus is with us. Because our loved one had this spirit and glory in them, I believe that glory stays here with us.  Why else would we experience such powerful physical reminders of their love and life?  For example, my husband Dave loved hawks and had the nickname “Hawk” in high school because he always kept his eye on the ball in whatever sport he played.  Whenever we traveled by car, he would spot a hawk sitting on a fence post or wire every time.  After his death, every trip I took, a hawk would be sitting on a fence post or wire like it was waiting for me. It reflected Dave’s continued presence.

Even more, God wants us to see His glory – His presence in our lives – every day.  It is these reflections that help us in our grief and give us moments.  These precious moments remind us that we are not alone, and God wants us to know He is beside us.  God gives us beauty though in our grieve, it takes awhile to again see it.  As we journey in our grief, we begin to reflect God’s glory to others who are beginning the journey.  The darkness and sadness of grief leaves a hole in our hearts and lives.  On the journey, we begin to see God’s glory and presence even in the hole.  God is with us no matter how we feel.  God shines around and through our darkness.  Someday in some way God will bring beauty out of our darkness.  Sometimes we need to turn around and focus on a new path and direction.