Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, April 23, 2026
In this image taken at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, these otherwise ordinary looking rocks fluoresce when UV light shines on them. Some of the rock types include Fluorite Calcite and Hardystonite Calcite among others.
While thinking about how these rocks emanate visible light by fluorescing when a less visible UV light hits them, I pondered how that relates to the way we reflect light from Jesus.
A couple things come to mind. Considering how natural history focuses on adaptation and survival of the fittest, there may be one more ingredient necessary before humans can become truly healthy and beautiful. That thing possibly could be the act of being willing and desiring God’s goodness to work through them. That final ingredient is so hard to qualify but turns out to be essential.
The second thing I pondered is the fact that we have a hard time seeing God’s light even though it is all around us. However, when someone goes above and beyond the necessary polite actions we expect, and they truly care about the well-being of people around them, something special happens. We see the light reflected from a higher source. They fluoresce.