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| Image by Bob Wick |
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A GREETING
It is good to give thanks to you, O God, to sing praises to your name.
(Psalm 92:1)
A READING
All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
(John 1:3-5)
MUSIC
MEDITATIVE VERSES
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
(Psalm 112:4-5)
A POEM
The Uses of Sorrow
(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
- "The Uses of Sorrow," by Mary Oliver,
found in her collection, Thirst.
VERSE OF THE DAY
It is you who light my lamp;
the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
(Psalm 18:28)
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| Image by Bob Wick |
The Gospel of John begins with a beautiful description of the dawn of the world. In it we hear that Jesus as the Word was present then. There are comforting verses here that remind us that in the eyes of God, the darkness is as light. The text plays with ideas from Genesis 1, in which God created and then separated, light from darkness.
We often associate darkness with the absence of a way to see clearly or know the way forward. Scripture uses the word often to represent a despair that comes from agonizing loss and disappointment. In this context, the light is seen to offer salvation and guidance.
Much of God’s created world, however, relies on darkness as much as light. Seed germination takes place in the darkness of the soil below the ground. It is in darkness that the roots seek nutrients. Light helps to draw the plant above the surface, but even after it has emerged, night is when the plant uses the glucose it made during the day with the sun to form new leaves, new flowers and new branches. Night is also the time when plants regulate themselves according to the temperature and time of year. The fact that plants can measure time of year, or amount of darkness in relation to light, is part of the wonder that is sparked by reflecting on the profound inter-connectedness of God's Creation.
Human beings find growth through their own journeys through hard times. ‘The dark night of the soul,’ is a term we use to describe a period of deep reflection, grief, adjustment, and learning. Sometimes we lie awake at night in darkness wondering how we will figure out particular problems or survive intensely feared outcomes. In our own way, we too are regulating ourselves in the dark, adjusting to our truths and finding ways forward. We are searching the darkness for what it is we need to know. Night gives us space in our lives for what we don't find time for in daylight.
We can also have experiences in the night that can be comforting: watching the stars, listening to sounds, observing the play of darkness and shadows on trees or the dance of fireflies. Darkness is a vital part of plant growth, and an essential part of our own development. The text tells us that the darkness did not overcome the light, but we can also be grateful that the light does not overcome the darkness.
Our personal journeys of transformation rely on the work our bodies and souls do at night: of sleeping, dreaming, resting, digesting and sometimes also lying awake and thinking deeply. When these rhythms are out of sync, we feel it in our whole selves.
When has the night been a challenging time for you and when has it been a comfort? How does God stir new life in you during these times?
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A STORY OF INTER-CONNECTEDNESS
In this short time lapse video of a night sky at Mount Laguna, California, the photographer captures the movement of heavenly objects. Meanwhile, the soundscape of crickets is a reminder of all that happens on the ground. Crickets feed on weed seeds at night and their droppings help fertilize the soil that other seeds grow in. Although crickets are a sign of autumn, they often start to be heard in late August while temperatures are still warm. Just as plants know when it's time to drop their seeds, crickets know when their season has come.
Video by Kevin Key
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LC† Seeds of Hope is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!