Darkness and Light

We talked a bit the other day about the fear of the Lord and its necessity for us as God's creatures. It in interesting to note that there are many instances when God is referred to in a sense of darkness instead of Light. We are, in some ways, conditioned to think of God as light. This is in part because of Jesus Christ, The Sun of Righteousness, and yes, I use Sun instead of Son on purpose as many hymnographers of the Church do. We don't often think of God or salvation in terms of darkness, but listen to the following:

Be watchful, O my soul, be full of courage like Jacob the great patriarch, that you may acquire action with knowledge, and be named Israel, "the mind that sees God"; so shall you reach by contemplation the innermost darkness, and gain great merchandise. Ode 157 St. Andrew's Canon

He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering around him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water. Psalm 18:9-11

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

During Great Lent let us contemplate on a God who is, in his essence, beyond our comprehension and understanding. Let us set aside our preconceived notions about God and let us truly begin to put our faith and trust in God. Let us realize that we cannot contain God, or box Him in. We can simply open ourselves to Him, trusting that He will fill us with the indescribable knowledge of Him as much has we can take. Not being able to understand or completely know God may be scary, but remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.