Northern Lights

Devotional for Sunday, November 2, 2003 by Gerry O'Brien

In mid-October, 2002, I was travelling by bus between Edmonton, Alberta, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where I was to meet my brother, who was picking me up there to travel on to Regina, Saskatchewan. I think we were about halfway between Lloydminster and Saskatoon when the sun started to set. The western prairie sunsets are usually outstanding; however, the one this night was breath-taking. It seemed to hang in the western sky for hours, and I think the different changing colors included all or most of the colours that an accomplished artist could manage to put together. I lived on the Canadian prairies for a few years back in the 1970s, but never did I witness such a magnificent sunset as this one.

Later that same night, I was travelling with my brother between Saskatoon and Regina. It was around 11:30 p.m. when we pulled off the highway to take a break and stretch our legs. As we did, I looked upward into the night sky, and was amazed as my eyes absorbed a most magnificent sight. There, coming from the north, the south, the east and the west, were the northern lights (aurora borealis), dancing throughout the sky and coming together at a point that seemed directly above us. Most times when we in the north see the northern lights, they will be seen in one area of the sky, but this night was different. It was a frosty, cold October night, and yet my brother and I stood there for well over twenty minutes, not speaking, just soaking in the sparkling colour and display of the lights.

Yes, our Lord does let His glory be seen in the heavens above, just as the Psalmist wrote. He also has given us the opportunity to let His light shine through us when we live by the truth, as it says in John 3:21: "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (NIV)

Prayer: Loving Father, we thank You that You show Yourself to us daily. Whether it be by day or by night, we know You are always present. We thank You for the beauty of the northern lights, the prairie sunsets, and the animals and birds that You have given us. Lord, we thank You that it is so clear that when we live by the truth, we come into the light, that Your Son shines forth out of us. Father, we ask that we continue on in the light, and we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Gerry O'Brien <gerryob@rogers.com>
Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, Canada

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