“For right now, we see through cloudy glass…” (1 Corinthians 13.12a).
If you had to guess, when would you think Earth is closest to the sun? Believe it or not, our journey around the sun isn’t a perfect circle, meaning there are times we’re closer and times we’re further away from our central star. And at one point in the year—perihelion—we’re three million miles closer to the sun than we are at aphelion, or our furthest point.
Summer, maybe? Probably around July or August when the days are so long and hot? Makes sense, doesn’t it?
But it turns out our closest annual approach to the sun was just this past Wednesday—4 January. On that day our little world was as near to the sun than it’ll be all year. Seven months from now, in the midst of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere, we’ll be at our greatest distance from the star that lights our days and warms our skin.
Appearances can mislead us. Things that seem completely logical can turn out to be the wrong conclusions. We see, as Paul says, through cloudy glass. Our perceptions of situations and trends, of what is hopeful and what is cause for despair are based upon observations that are clouded by what we don’t see clearly.
What, as this new year begins, seems hopeless or inspires fear in your heart? What does it mean when you think about that situation, that moment as one that may come when you are closer to the Light than any other?
Creator, as a new year begins, help me to see clearer where your light shines.