The sun as a metaphor

Tucson sunrise

A couple of weeks ago, I watched a glorious sunrise in Arizona. 

Mary Baker Eddy writes of the sun as a metaphor for God.   "If we say that the sun stands for God, then all his rays collectively stand for Christ, and each separate ray for men and women."  

I like to think about our shining out from God, like rays from the sun.  One ray doesn't interfere with another.  Each has its own assignment.  Yet each is important to lighting the whole day.  If the rays could be turned off, one by one, there would be almost imperceptible, but increasingly less light, till there was no light.  It would be a sad sun that had no rays.

Each of us is unique, important to God's good purpose for today.  Each of us has an assignment only we can fulfill.  None of us can interfere with anyone else's shining.  God, as infinite light, shines through us.  What we do with our moments and our lives makes God known.  We are Her shining.

And She, in turn, shines Her approval on us.

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us."  (Ps. 67:1)