“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.”
The themes of light and darkness have permeated my spiritual journey. In the dim light of early morning in the sanctuary of my childhood Lutheran sanctuary, I heard the voice of Jesus call me to follow him. It was a spirit-filled moment that my young teen mind struggled to conceive, but the message was clear, and I committed myself to the love of Christ and to follow the light.
Of course, life happens. High school, college, seminary, work, marriage, and children. All these life changes came with seasons of light and darkness. Through all the seasons though, the moments of darkness never lasted long enough to keep out the light. But then came the depression. This was a darkness unlike any other I had experienced before. It was disorienting and debilitating. I was underwater. I could see nothing but darkness no matter how much I flailed about trying to reach the light at the surface, only darkness. I prayed, I read, I called out, but I was lost, suffocated by the darkness. It was a painful, aching, and very long stretch of time in my journey, but the Spirit never leaves its own. Slowly, very slowly, I began to surface. As I grew closer to the surface, the light filtered in brighter each day. Such tremendous relief to break from the deep darkness into light once more.
Advent is a beautiful time of anticipation. A time when we light candles of hope, joy, peace, and love. Even in such a strange time, what a blessing to experience this Advent season from a place of health and light.
Prayer:
Spirit of light come to us as we wait. Give us grace to bear each other’s burdens and to encourage each other in times of darkness. Open our hearts to light and love as we experience life with each other. Amen
