This week on Darkwood Brew, we ask an interesting question ,”What Is Light?”

We have all experienced light but do we really know what it is? Wikipedia defines it as, “Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight.”

There is a Fred Meyer store in Fairbanks, Alaska, sort of a Walmart on steroids. I have visited this place many times having spent 2 weeks each summer for 5 summers as a faculty member of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. Arguably, there’s not too much to do in Fairbanks thus resulting in my frequent trips to Fred Meyer looking for golf shirts.

In talking to several of the Army guys who had signed up for jazz lessons at the festival, the subject of Fred Meyer came up. They were quick to tell me that Fred Meyer’s was the place to be in the winter. Why? Because there was light there and the winter in Alaska is mostly dark. The sun only comes up on the horizon about 2 hrs a day. It can be very depressing.

The message? We need light to be happy and healthy. In fact, all life depends on light. Without it, everything dies.

But there is a different kind of light, the light of awareness. We have all been in dark places, spiritually and psychologically. The gift of spiritual light, called enlightenment, always comes at an opportune time. This doesn’t refer to the Enlightenment we find with Jesus or Buddha. There are many levels of enlightening experiences accessible to all. With each one comes a release from spiritual darkness and psychological burden.

The beautiful thing about receiving the gift of enlightenment is that it must be shared. We cannot contain it. It’s nature is to be passed on to others.

The band plans to play This Little Light of Mine on Sunday.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Chuck Marohnic
Director of Music for Darkwood Brew