From The Editor

THIS month the light in Scotland (and indeed across the UK) is changing.

Regardless of all else that is taking place, the days are lengthening and the nights are shortening.

For friends and family who live on the other side of the world in Australia and New Zealand, the opposite is true: for them it is autumn, rather than spring which beckons and it is a shortening of days and lengthening of night that lies ahead in the coming months. The seasons of light fall differently for them.

In the northern reaches of Scotland and the islands and for our Scandinavian friends, the dawn of spring means light is no longer in short supply – and that endless days and nights of light are on the way.

The days in the UK will lengthen further on the last day of this month as the clocks go forward for British Summer Time (which also falls on Mothering Sunday this year) and, for a short time, the mornings will be a little darker.

As winter changes to spring and lengthening days, the light brings hope and the promise of Easter – and better times ahead.

March is a month when light not only changes but becomes increasingly important.

But what is light?

A cursory look at the dictionary suggests light is a versatile word: for it can be noun, verb or adjective.

The most common definition offered by the Oxford Dictionary is: ‘The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible’. This definition could almost be a metaphor for the Christian faith.

It is a quality that is frequently mentioned in the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

”As the season of Lent begins in preparation for the joy of Easter, the message of the importance of light and its transforming impact at the end of the darkest times should not be underestimated.

From Genesis 1:3: ‘Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light’ to Revelation 21:23 ‘And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb,’ light plays a key part in the book at the heart of the Christian faith.

The restorative power of light in the world brings not only hope, but health and helps the world to survive, not just spiritually but on a practical level too.

As the season of Lent begins in preparation for the joy of Easter, the message of the importance of light and its transforming impact at the end of the darkest times should not be underestimated.

Lynne McNeil Editor

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