“For you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.”  Malachi 4:2

“The night is far gone, the day is near.”  Romans 13:12

The verses are timely at this time of year in the upper Midwest.  Many say they “don’t like” fall.  They “dread what’s coming” … Winter with its cold and snow.  Daylight wanes.  There is controversy about setting clocks back: “It gets dark so early.”  But … it gets light earlier … for a bit.  Daylight is not “saved”; it is merely flip-flopped.  And it just feels dark.  

But we know the Earth keeps turning … toward the morning, toward longer daylight hours.  We are fortunate to have many windows in our house and see the beauty of low sun.  The western sky blazes with pinks and oranges at day’s end.  Tomorrow morning the eastern sky will greet me with the same.  Even as the Earth is at rest new life is brewing beneath the surface.  Feeling peaceful and at rest, I feel comfort seeing light in neighbors’ windows and decorative yard lights.  We need to see, feel the light.

This is a time of waiting.  Children are waiting for Santa.  Parents are waiting for adult children to come home.  Some can’t wait for it all to be over.  Surrounded by parties and twinkling lights, it is easy to overlook the significance of Advent, of darkness and waiting, the hope of redemption, for the “new life brewing beneath the surface”, within us.  We are waiting to celebrate Jesus.  He always has been, always will be, here – all around us, inside us.  This is our light. 

“With our own eyes, we see salvation.  Within our hearts, we are set free.
Your Word made flesh, hope of the nations, Light for the world to see!

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.  Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light!  Shine in your church gathered today.”  Amen             

(prayer text:  Bernadette Farrell)

Verla Olson

 

 

 

 

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