(originally posted on Facebook the 4th of May, 2012)

♦ drawing Parallels ♦
~...within context~

On this rainy Friday morning, I'm starting this themed monthly message. Let me explain just what this is about. Basically, "drawing Parallels" here is a side project of sorts of my graphic novel titled simply "Parallels" and there are many reasons why it's titled this. One reason is that within the story, I draw out countless side by side comparisons of many different walks of life, both Godly and... decidedly otherwise. "drawing Parallels" takes this a step further by doing a direct side by side comparison between "pop" culture, christian culture, and scripture. I've actually wanted to start doing this for a bit of while now, just I couldn't decide when I was finally going to get to it, nor where I was going to post it up. Decisions led to decisions, and here we are. So without further ado then, I'll get right to it.

This month's topic covers the sun. It was out in full the last few days and made everything beautiful. There are many who have said things about the sun, and what it symbolizes in everyone's life. A fellow of the name George Harrison wrote a fairly uplifting song about this subject, titled "Here Comes the Sun"

This song vaguely describes the warm fuzzies that come around in Spring time when the snow thaws and things spring to life, so to say. Typically, anyone can get the "everything is okay" feeling from warm fuzzies. Anyone can also put all their hope in seeing the sun rise again the next day. It's a touching song, truly. But can one truly find fulfillment and contentment in the sun rising, alone?

The former Christian rock group, PFR (which stands for Pray For Rain, by the way) wrote a song putting attention on the sun as well. This one is titled "See the Sun Again"
 

This song, from my understanding, is directed to someone who has fallen astray from God and faith somehow, and in a very vague but meaningful way is telling the person in question to strain to see God's presence still in their life. This is metaphorically speaking but it makes sense as the writer describes how even when a storm goes over, or when night falls, there is still a "sun" to be seen in the sky.

The bible has a few things to say about the sun. Jesus himself said something rather profound about it (naturally). This can be read in the gospel according to Mathew, chapter five. The Sermon on the Mount was where the Lord gave many profound viewpoints, and the one that goes along with today's topic is in verses forty-three to forty-five;
43) You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Here it can be seen how hard it is to find fulfillment in simply trusting in the sun rising every morning, as Jesus points out that even those who are against you can find comfort and strength from that same morning star. George Harrison practiced Hinduism, and was for all intents and purposes a fairly spiritual guy. He was really in to the multiculturalist agenda though, which could be gathered from statements he made like "All religions are branches of one big tree. It doesn't matter what you call Him just as long as you call."
From hearing statements like these by themselves, it's hard to say someone like George firmly believes in anything. To his credit, the song could easily be seen as a metaphor for God's presence returning to our lives much like See the Sun Again describes. Throwing a "Christian spin" on the secular or otherwise can pretty fun. To wrap this all up, let's consider how dear we all hold the sun and what it provides for us. Then go deeper in realizing that it provides for our enemies as well, by God's design. It's good to uplift one another with remarking about how steadfast the morning star is, as well as using the sun as metaphor for the presence of God. Ultimately though, we should put focus on God for what he has provided us (being the creator of the sun and all) and for his steadfastness that surpasses all the cosmos, including our beloved morning star.

And that's it for this month. I think I'll try to do these the first Friday of every following month, so expect to see the next drawing Parallels message possibly in the morning of June 8th. Parallels, the graphic novel by yours truly can be found and read by those interested for free on my deviant art page. A link to get there can be found on my profile here on Facebook in the contact info section. You can ask me for the link if you want.
(or you can go straight to it from here-> http://fav.me/d4wg7dz )
Can't wait to do this again next month. In the mean time, folks

God bless and
~keep it real.