Eternal Light! Eternal Light!
How pure the soul must be,
when, placed within Your searching sight,
it shrinks not, but with calm delight
can face such majesty.

The spirits who surround Your throne
may bear that burning bliss;
but that is surely theirs alone,
since they have never, never known
a fallen world like this.

O how shall I, whose dwelling here
is dark, whose mind is dim,
before the face of God appear
and on my human spirit bear
The uncreated beam?

There is a way for us to rise
to that sublime abode:
an offering and a sacrifice,
a Holy Spirit’s energies,
an advocate with God.

Such grace prepares us for the sight
of holiness above;
those once in ignorance and night
can dwell in the eternal Light,
through the eternal Love.

Thomas Binney

Ten years ago today the sweetest soul was born. He was gentle and quiet and had penetrating eyes of wisdom far beyond his short time earth-side. When he became sick at three weeks, he bore his illness with grace and patience. Sometimes I wonder if Damian somehow knew he was never really born for this world. He came only to go. Was born to truly Live. And so I think of him today, now for 10 years bearing “with calm delight” the burning, majestic holiness of our God and I am glad. Glad that I was the privileged mother to bear a child whose purpose in life has been perfectly and wonderfully fulfilled far beyond the secular dreams we could ever fabricate. He is There! Already! He has drunk of the water of life and can bear with joy and delight the most glorious sight of all. Oh, we should not weep for the ones with Life….let us weep instead with holy anticipation for the sight of the King in all His glory.

I finished reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader last night; nothing less than the Holy Spirit’s impeccable timing. What a journey we are on, what preparation in drinking living water, of having our eyes enlightened for the Eternal Light, even if it must be through grief and shining lakes of lilies and listen along with Lewis to that delightful promise:

“‘Aslan’s country perhaps,’ said the Mouse, its eyes shining.”