May the Lord bless you and keep you during this holy week and season of love and light. Even as we approach the birth of Jesus, the light of each day is brief, perhaps more brief than any year before. In the darkness, the brevity of light, I am continuing to seek God’s presence and wisdom would be revealed for you and me and for our Church.
This prayer is your gift! Merry Christmas to you all!
A writing, a prayer, shared with me this week, I share with you:
God, who made the darkness: This year has felt like
a shadow
obscuring
every hopeful thing.
There are days when all we can do is ask, “Where are you?”
Please understand it is difficult to see you in the dark.
It is hard to believe that you have not left.
Draw near to us now and remind us
that you also made the darkness.
Help us to remember a God who refuses to let evil colonize the dark.
And just as you grew in the darkness of Mary’s womb
you might remind us that you
bring
glory
out of the dark.
So make comfort of our darkness now, that it might be a time
not of fear but that which puts our body at rest –
restoring bodies in the night.
Redeem even the shadows, reminding us that they can be a refuge
from the sun,
preserving life in draught and thirst.
And as the days grow shorter
and the nights stretch on
and any remaining light feels
vulnerable to being put out,
protect our hope.
That we would sense your presence as we wait for dawn. Amen.
– Cole Riley
Peace,
Tara
If you would like to view past editions of Time with Tara, follow this link: https://harbordistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/