Good morning…
In the earth’s Northern hemisphere, tonight is the winter solstice, also called the hibernal solstice. The winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year. At dawn, we will wake up into the first official day of winter.
I happen upon a poem to shed light on this special night. Then, after sharing an empowering Bible verse, I will share a cool video which brings it all to life. Please enjoy the gift of this quiet dawning.
******
BLESSING FOR THE LONGEST NIGHT by Jan Richardson
All throughout these months
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.
It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.
So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.
You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.
This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.
So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.
This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.
*******
On this longest of nights, might we truly trust that any direction we go, we will be walking toward the dawning of more light, more blessing, more of God’s shining power? Surrounded by deep, deep darkness, our hopeful hearts pray.
Lord, help me to truly trust.
“Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, AMP).
…Sue…
