“Light and dark insist on existing together. They touch and they ask, only that we be open to examining where our metaphors have failed us so we’d know not to fear their touch as well.”
YES. You said this so precisely and beautifully. You named an ugly reality--failed metaphors (or I’d even say intentional propaganda)--with such elegance and pointed to the truth that light and dark are not enemies at all.
Oh your words swirl in me and reawaken some of the questions I never found answers for. How can that song so familiar be so admired? How can the core of those words be reflective of our God who said “it is very good” of our creation?
Tonight I’m reminded that whenever I’m with people of color, especially Black people, I’m overwhelmed by their radiance. My white world doesn’t seem to compare. The joy, the love, the pain, the grief - all of the things of life seems much more alive than many of my skinfolk. I’ve always thought it had to do with the hardships endured making everything more precious. Tonight you have me rethinking. Perhaps it is the very action of the melanin absorbing the light and reflection it back that is the thing that shines for me.
You are radiant. You are of a radiant people. I’m blessed by your presence every time in encounter you.
This was a beautiful read. I was struck by the fact that being in the light makes us darker and my love for being outdoors. While my skin darkness with the love of the sun I am literally in the light while figuratively feeling lighter.
The impossible imagery of garments coming out clean and white after being washed in blood has me focussing on the cleansing medium, not the item being cleansed. Of course light touches dark skin...it traces and caresses it, highlights and penetrates it in long hours spent together. Made for each other, dark skin and light.
Really good questions, here’s my answer to the first one: “light touches dark skin, too” means that I am not outside His purview, that I am His, and He is mine. Light can reach and penetrate me, and I can radiate light. I am good.
“Light and dark insist on existing together. They touch and they ask, only that we be open to examining where our metaphors have failed us so we’d know not to fear their touch as well.”
YES. You said this so precisely and beautifully. You named an ugly reality--failed metaphors (or I’d even say intentional propaganda)--with such elegance and pointed to the truth that light and dark are not enemies at all.
I just love your writing, Rose.
The imagery comes from Scripture which was written by dark skinned ppl with no idea about whiteness in relation to self or race
This is incredible, stunning. I love the idea of the void as chaos rather than nothing. Nothing needs to be eliminated.
Thank you for sharing!! I love that your last sentence could be interpreted (at least) two ways 🙂
Oh your words swirl in me and reawaken some of the questions I never found answers for. How can that song so familiar be so admired? How can the core of those words be reflective of our God who said “it is very good” of our creation?
Tonight I’m reminded that whenever I’m with people of color, especially Black people, I’m overwhelmed by their radiance. My white world doesn’t seem to compare. The joy, the love, the pain, the grief - all of the things of life seems much more alive than many of my skinfolk. I’ve always thought it had to do with the hardships endured making everything more precious. Tonight you have me rethinking. Perhaps it is the very action of the melanin absorbing the light and reflection it back that is the thing that shines for me.
You are radiant. You are of a radiant people. I’m blessed by your presence every time in encounter you.
Thank you Margaret 🖤
This was a beautiful read. I was struck by the fact that being in the light makes us darker and my love for being outdoors. While my skin darkness with the love of the sun I am literally in the light while figuratively feeling lighter.
Evie! So glad to see a comment from you. I deeply enjoyed conversing with you yesterday.
Thank you for the compliment. I feel like "I am literally in the light while figuratively feeling lighter" is the goal of my writing and my life.
I loved this, Rose. Especially the point about light and darks insistence on existing together.
I’m meditating on this: What happened to the chaos, this “face of the deep” that some theologians were content to leave behind?
.
This was so beautiful
The impossible imagery of garments coming out clean and white after being washed in blood has me focussing on the cleansing medium, not the item being cleansed. Of course light touches dark skin...it traces and caresses it, highlights and penetrates it in long hours spent together. Made for each other, dark skin and light.
Absolutely gorgeous.
Really good questions, here’s my answer to the first one: “light touches dark skin, too” means that I am not outside His purview, that I am His, and He is mine. Light can reach and penetrate me, and I can radiate light. I am good.