LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
Light and dark are favourite metaphors for the Christian faith because they vividly illustrate the contrast between good and evil, faith and unbelief. Sight is fundamental to our understanding of the world, which is why we often talk about understanding in visual terms ‘I see‘, can mean I comprehend. I watched a programme this week about the brain and how it functions. It is amazing to consider the complexity and inter-relatedness of our brains. After neurological damage the brain is able to adapt so that different parts take up the function of the damaged area. They also showed how the brain can be trained to decode messages from unfamiliar stimulation. Training our senses to become more aware is part of the ongoing process of learning. This is no less true about our spiritual journey. Fasting is one such method some people use to tune into the experience of life. This discipline can help in raising spiritual awareness. The forty days in the wilderness were Christ’s training