I am very fond of the Central Branch of the Seattle Public Library at 1000 Fourth Avenue. The iconic building, designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaus, has an outside skin of glass. The 9,994 windows set in twelve-inch steel I-beams make the building transparent. Standing outside, one can see in; standing inside, one can enjoy the urban landscape; also, from within as one looks up or down, you can see through parts of the building to other floors. The library is transparent.
When something is transparent, light is able to pass without distortion and one sees more clearly. Transparency is a word heard more frequently in social discourse today. Often it refers to government or institutional processes. People are more comfortable if the components of decisions are more public.
In the faith journey we are in a process, allowing the light of Christ to illumine the shadow places in our life with forgiveness, grace and truth. Thereby, we become more transparent, more complete, and more authentic. I like the phrase, “love and truth go before your face.”
In this season of preparing to take in the transforming power of the Resurrection at Easter, one might allow the light and truth of Christ engage one of your shadow spots. In so doing, you take another step toward wholeness and enhanced transparency.
—The Rev Hollis Williams
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