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Viewpoint from Jane Walters 18/11/2022
 Jane Walters
Jane Walters, is the author of Too Soon, a mother’s journey through miscarriage (SPCK) and a regular contributor to Premier Radio and UCB. She leads creative writing retreats and is a popular speaker locally and further afield. Visit: janewyattwalters.com
Pushing Back the Darkness
Doesn’t it make a difference to our view of the world when the clocks go back! Our gradual step-by-step progression into autumn plummets into what can seem the sharp slide into winter. I’m writing this on a particularly dreary afternoon, the lights having been on for a while now; trying to soften the blow by drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows on the top
 But did you know that, scientifically, there is no such thing as darkness? However real and oppressive and even sinister it can feel, darkness is simply the absence of light. A humble match struck into the gloom pushes the darkness away – we can watch it retreat. Knowing the science doesn’t always help the emotions, though. Try telling a small child, whimpering with fear over monsters under the bed, that there’s no such thing as darkness. I can guarantee their reply won’t be: “Oh, thank you for explaining. I’m off to sleep now. Night, night”
The only thing that is going to make the darkness disappear is the presence of light. If you’ve ever got up in the middle of the night, not wanting to switch the lights on and disturb everyone else, you’ll have noticed how bright the tiny little charging-light on an appliance is. In the daytime, you’d have forgotten it was even plugged in, so insignificant that light is when there is daylight all around
Jesus called Himself the Light of the World. He came to take away not just the things we associate with darkness, like bad behaviour, illness and fear, but His presence makes the very dark itself disappear. Yet here’s the thing: He also called us the lights of the world. If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the Sunday School song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”. Perhaps you’ve grown up, still thinking that your light is little, perhaps too little to be of use? But if you take your light and light someone else’s; and they, in turn, light someone else’s; then, before you know it, you’ve got a whole host of little lights together making a massive impact on the darkness
Only today, two friends blessed me with a gift that shifted a dark space in my circumstances. When I thanked them, they replied, “We’re just passing the blessing on”
You see? It’s as simple as that. Let your light shine
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