The artists from Mothership have produced a breathtaking public art installation in Rotterdam. In their own words:

On May 14th 1940 the city of Rotterdam was bombed. The bombs and especially the fire that followed reduced its centre to smoldering ashes.

Already during the war it was decided that the destroyed buildings wouldn’t be rebuild, but that Rotterdam would be turned into a new, modern city.

For Rotterdam 2007 – City of Architecture, the border indicating the destroyed area will be marked with huge spotlights. Each light has a capacity of 7000 watts. The invisible border will be shown in a spectacular way!”

[h/t: Notcot]

This project immediately call to mind the “Tribute in Light” project in New York city, in which artists created two towers of light from a cluster of searchlights where the fallen towers once stood.

These projects bear silent witness to the symbolic power of light that cuts through darkness. They inspire hope, even wonder, in their viewers. Could this be what Jesus meant when talked about cities and hills, and lamps and bowls? Sometimes, we reduce the idea or “shining” for Jesus to that one Sunday a year when we roll out the little ones in front of the congregation to sing “this little light of mine.” Sometimes our light is more like that of an overzealous police officer holding a Maglite at head level and peering menacingly into the law-breaking sinner’s car: “Do you know why I’ve singled you out tonight, sir?” says the Christian SWAT team.

What if our light cut through darkness, offering a breathtaking glimpse into the kingdom, inspiring hope and wonder at the sight of such life within us?