Darkness

Genesis begins by telling us that before there was something, there was darkness, void and without form. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the concept that when there was nothing, God was. He didn't exist then, just as He doesn't exist now. That is to say, He can't cease to exist, somehow failing "to be" like earthly things. He was and is and shall be.

The fourth, and final Gospel, John, ends with darkness. Several of the disciples have found themselves late at night near the Sea of Tiberias. They decide to go fishing--back to what they were doing before Jesus came and gave them such wild hope about a Kingdom and Salvation. I imagine they sat quietly in the boat, waiting for something to bite, lost in their thoughts about what to do now that Jesus was gone--dead, not existing.

Then suddenly, there was a flicker--a glowing near the shore. It seemed to beat in rhythm as someone knelt over it, breathing life into it. And then, a flame. Then a voice broke the quiet of the night: "Catch anything?" They had not; now, another example of how bad things had gotten. "Try throwing your net on the other side, maybe." There must have been shifting eyes and heavy sighs as if they hadn't been trying everything all night. But why not? And suddenly, more fish than they could lift.

It was Jesus. Simon Peter leaped from the boat and swam straight for Him. The others rowed as fast as they could, dragging the loaded net. As they approached, they could smell fish and fresh bread, all of which was being warmed over the fire. "Y'all want some breakfast?"

Here He was, Light of the World, making breakfast over a campfire. He had broken the darkness both literally and figuratively. Previously lost in their grief and fear, they now laughed, broke bread, and tried to take it all in —Jesus was back!

There are certainly times in our lives when we will feel empty and void. There will be times when things appear so dark that we can't find our bearings. Our eyes strain into the emptiness, willing something, anything, to exist. All we're asked to do is take a step or two forward through the darkness. Look for the faint flicker in the distance. And then give it an all-out sprint to the Light of the World. And there was light.