half-tied ribbons

living in darkness

• Posted by Kristy on December 12th, 2007 filed in faith walking

it’s so hard to describe the whole daylight and darkness in Alaska thing. it has been way better than i expected. i think it was the most worried about thing in my mind before our move, really thinking it would make me melancholy and thrown into a deep depression. truly, the opposite has happened. it has not been nearly as bad as my mind had imagined. and everything is such a new experience. that makes it easier.

i think the biggest surprise is that it’s all really gradual. i mean, duh, right? i think i thought that boom, it was suddenly dark 24 hours a day all winter long and then boom, it’s bright and sunny 24 hours a day all summer long. but that’s not how it is. it’s been really gradual and there’s not any days of total night time darkness all day long. we are awaiting dec. 21st when we will begin to gain 5 minutes of daylight each day. only a week and a half to go. that doesn’t sound like much (5 minutes a day) but it really is. it begins to add up as a week goes by, then 2 weeks and so on. right now, it’s getting “light up” as abby still says around 9:30-10 am round about. today is not a full sunny day so it’s hard to say…. then it’s getting dusk-ish around 3:30 or so and full dark by 4:30 or 5 pm. abby has noticed on several days the moon and sun seem really close together. up at the same time for sure.

nonetheless, makes for great sleeping in! and normal people like myself who get to sleep in a little can still see the sunrise over the mountains with snow on them. yeah, it’s so great! and depending on the sky and snow and just whatever it’s a different art work every day. my favorite is when you can see the rays of the sun peeking through and around the mountains but not full on sun. the colors are fabulous. i think everyone should visit in winter and summer. if only we were all independently wealthy, right?

after being here just this fall and now getting into winter, i have a whole new take on the scriptures about living in darkness. i think of it totally different now.  that Christ came to be the light of the world. WOW! that people living in darkness would have light. so many scriptures have hit me afresh after being here even just a short time. the psalm (121 i think) that says, “I lift my eyes unto the hills. where does my help come from? my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” has been so much more meaningful.  it’s so neat to get a fresh outlook!

oh, and i’m looking forward to seeing the norhern lights. maybe a blog will come from that when i do. better go look for the forecast.