particles of light

Bruce Cockburn is a powerful singer-songwriter. One of my favourite albums of his is Dancing In The Dragon’s Jaw. The chorus of one of that album’s songs, Hills Of Morning, struck me recently.

Let me be a little of your breath

Moving over the face of the deep

I want to be a particle of your light

Flowing over the hills of morning

These words bring up the mystery of how us humans somehow get the privilege of merging with God in God’s tangible presence in the world. It is a prayer to be involved in God’s breath, in God’s light, in God’s mission to make the world better than the world is.

Of course, we know Jesus is the light of the world but Matthew 5 turns the direction back to us:

You are the light of the world.
A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 

Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

We can, and indeed must, be “particles of light” scattered across our city, region, world, bringing the thinking, voice, touch, attitude and ultimately love of God wherever we are and whoever we are with. Those particles of light are somehow partners with God making up the bigger light. That is why Jesus called himself the Light of the world and then at another time told the disciples that they were the Light of the world.

Cockburn’s lyric is a powerful prayer seeking God that we might be part of the force that transforms the world.

Let me be a little of your breath

Moving over the face of the deep

I want to be a particle of your light

Flowing over the hills of morning

Listen to the song and read the lyrics as you prepare to move into whatever God has for you this week... as a particle of his light.

Hills of Morning ~ Bruce Cockburn
Underneath the mask of the sulfur sky
A bunch of us were busy waiting
Watching the people looking ill-at-ease
Watching the fraying rope get closer to breaking

Women and men moved back and forth
In between effect and cause
And just beyond the range of normal sight
This glittering joker was dancing in the dragon's jaws

Let me be a little of your breath
Moving over the face of the deep
I want to be a particle of your light
Flowing over the hills of morning

The only sign you gave of who you were
When you first came walking down the road
Was the way the dust motes danced around
Your feet in a cloud of gold

But everything you see's not the way it seems
Tears can sing and joy shed tears
You can take the wisdom of this world
And give it to the ones who think it all ends here

Let me be a little of your breath
Moving over the face of the deep
I want to be a particle of your light
Flowing over the hills of morning