It seems that "shining" has often been … well, if not a bit controversial, then perhaps disconcerting. It’s the kind of situation that might cause you to take a step back … maybe more than one.
Take Stephen King's The Shining, for example. His publisher lobbied long and hard for King to not even write the novel, worried he would get typed as a horror writer. There's some irony for you. The book went on to be King's first hardback bestseller.
Then there was the movie. The Stanley Kubrick film, generally considered one of the greatest horror films of all time, nevertheless diverged significantly from King's novel. King was quite vocal about his disappointment. The irony, here, is that the popularity of the movie drove book sales through the roof.
Also a little disconcerting, people didn't understand the title, even after reading the book or seeing the movie. Where did King get the idea to call it that? He wasn’t saying. In fact, it wasn't until 11 years after The Shining was first published that King explained. He took the title from the John Lennon song, Instant Karma! Lennon suggests we, like the moon, stars, and sun, "all shine on."
There’s shining in this week’s scriptures, too. When Moses came down from his mountaintop meeting with God, his face was positively glowing ... really glowing. Moses was so bright, the people were afraid. He had to keep his face covered with a veil until the glow faded away. If we saw someone like that today, we would be frightened, too.
Then, in Luke, Jesus takes his inner circle up the mountain where He is transfigured. He too, is left glowing after encountering God there. I wonder how long that glow lasted? Scripture doesn't tell us. One thing we know, though—they didn't come down from the mountain until the next day.
Both "shinings" show up in the Corinthians passage. Paul compares the two and tells us we can let go of that old, fading shine of the Law of Moses. He wants us to know that, since Jesus has “removed the veil,” we no longer need some intermediary to trek up the mountain on our behalf. We can now meet God face to face. But you need to be aware, that’s likely to leave a glow, a shining you do not want to avoid. You want people to see you with that shine. It's God's light pouring through you.
Shine on.
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Just for fun, here’s Colbie Caillat singing Brighter Than the Sun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYkudx096Pg
For the curious, here’s John Lennon singing Instant Karma!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqgTSk9Aq50
PHOTO by NASA:
https://images.nasa.gov/details-GSFC_20171208_Archive_e000084.html
Not all of us are morning people, bright and shining when we first face the day. That's what breakfast is for. And coffee. Join us for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast Friday morning at 8:00. We gather for a great hour of relaxed fellowship and scripture on Zoom** and in-person at Our Breakfast Place.
Enjoy the week!
Steve
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Cx_TransfigurationSunday.pdf
Exodus 34:29-35
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