PENTECOST XII
August 23, 2020
“Light in the Darkness”
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established, what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4) “I will gave thanks to you, O Lord . . . For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” (Psalm 108:3a, 4)
A couple of days after the derecho hit with its destructive fury, I stepped out onto my front porch, hoping for a breath of cooler air. All around me was darkness — no streetlight on the corner, no lights in a neighbor’s window, no cars driving by. Just . . . dark. It felt as though nature itself was wearing mourning black, and I felt sorrow and loss weighing me down. But I listened to the quiet for a bit, and a certain sense of calm arose, reminding me that even in the worst of times, all is not hopeless.
A short time later, my daughter told me of how my granddaughter insisted they go outside to look at the stars, and although not really in the mood to go out, she did so. What a show they saw! The Milky Way, planets, constellations, a shooting star, all in a sky sparkling with innumerable stars. They could only sit back to marvel at the beauty and miracle of the heavens. Destruction over such a wide area and of such a magnitude is difficult to process and comprehend. I hardly recognize the street I’ve lived on for over 45 years, and get both angry and weepy when I look at our beautiful maple, snapped like a toothpick. Its red leaves of autumn have warmed my kitchen in rosy light and brightened up gray days. None of us wants to be the winner of the “I’ve got the worst damage” competition.
It’s heartening to learn of individuals and groups organizing so as to help in cleanup tasks, others gathering food and supplies for those whose homes are without power, unlivable or destroyed. Everyday human needs take on a high priority in the face of community-wide loss.
As Christians, we have a community of faith to which we can turn, and although we’re not gathering in person, we can share God’s Word, turn to him in prayer, and draw strength from one another. Helpers are mobilizing, and assistance is being offered to those needing a helping hand. Faith is put into action, as we are called to serve our sisters and brothers in desperate circumstances.
For many of us, sitting down and praying feels like another task added in to the nearly endless number we already face. But God understands when we say, “I’m scared, I’m worried, I’m overwhelmed, help me, give me strength, show me how to get through this.” Those words are prayers, and God knows what’s in our hearts, and we can be assured of his boundless, endless love, which strengthens us every day.
Grateful for the stars in the sky and all around us,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers