I was at the park (of course) last week, pondering the idea that we tend to hide things in the dark where no one will see what would, we believe, feel shameful in the light. The song Marvelous Light was battling in my mind...it did not make sense.

"Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness, out of shame"

...but, I was thinking, it's coming out of the darkness that would intensify the shame. And actually it can intensify the shame when it's brought out into the relatively dim light of the world.

Today at the park, in a huge tree there was one branch that appeared white against the backdrop of dark branches and lush green leaves. The branch was dead...appearing shameful in the light of the world with the overcast sky. There were no beams of light shining down on it. I just thought, in the night, in the darkness, it looks the same as all the other branches...no shame. However, had the sun shown through and beams of light shown down on it, it would have been a different sight.

Whatever is in the light is more noticeable,
yet the rays of the light itself provide beauty

...but also draw forth a new beauty that can only be seen when combined with the light...much like a rainbow.

I noticed the grass in the shade. I could see it, just existing by the light of the world. But as I looked over to where the morning sun's rays were illuminating the grass, the landscape sparkled with color and vitality and life...brightly exposed, yet every flaw and imperfection unnoticed by the beauty brought by the light.

The rain of shame that's drawn into or exposed by the light provides a "host" or catalyst for the light to shine through creating something new of awe and beauty.