And that Light was the Light of Men

It’s almost 9 pm and it’s still light out.  Here on the edge of the time zone it stays dark later.  Across the big lake – one of the GREAT lakes, actually – the sun is going down even though it’s only almost 8:00.

I remember when I moved here last June and I didn’t arrive until 10:00 PM and the sun’s presence was still sort of felt and seen even though she went away about 10 minutes prior.  The horizon still glowed, but I couldn’t see it very well because of all the buildings and houses.

It’s pretty crowded here, but not too crowded.

I don’t know what it is about light, but there’s something to it.  I think photography and videography are all about the light – capturing the light, using the light to your advantage.

Wikipedia tells me that a shadow is an area where direct light from a light source cannot reach due to obstruction by an object.  I think this is a good definition because I think of it metaphorically.  I think about the good things hiding in the shadows because there’s more darkness than light.  I notice this especially around Winter, but it turns out the seasons only matter partially.  Really what matters is events and relationships.  And stuff gets swallowed into the darkness.

When your fingers are locked with somebody else’s fingers it’s like summer of the hands, even in December.  I know because I felt it.  At that point the shadow metaphor doesn’t work, though, because it’s dark where the fingers lock, dark and sweaty, but guess what?  It doesn’t matter because it’s summer of the hands.

At work the other day I was talking about how I needed another job and a co-worker said I could come be his house boy, but I said no.  Actually I think I laughed because I’m laid back, obviously, and don’t like even small confrontations.  He’s in his 40’s, he has a beard and he’s gay.

My friend from New Jersey says “retarded” like this: “retardit.”  I don’t usually use that word.  I do miss my friend from New Jersey because I could tell him anything.  There aren’t many people I could tell anything to, but he’s one of them.  He got his Master’s in counseling.  He’s dating a girl named Sarah, and she’s nice.  She gave me two movie tickets for my birthday last year and I still haven’t used them.

Why don’t I go to the movies more?  It’s dark in the theater but a story unfolds for a couple hours and the flashing light is the writer & director’s vision of what life is like, or should be like.  It’s his master metaphor for life, or at least that’s what Robert McKee says, and he’s an expert.

When I was in New Jersey last year I didn’t make much money but it was really expensive to live.  That’s one of the reasons I moved to Michigan where it’s a lot cheaper but I still don’t have money because I have lots of bills to pay, what with school loans and car insurance and rent.  Oh, and food.  I buy food, too, so after all those bills are paid I don’t really have much left over to save.

It’s pretty easy to separate things into to light and dark, but I read one time from a smart theologian that people full of shadows might also be full of a light that causes them.

And there’s so much more.

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