Bittersweet Beauty
/October 4, 2021
Scripture
God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. (2Corinthians 4:6-9 NLT)
Bittersweet Beauty
It was around 6:45 p.m. last week and Susan and I were driving southbound on a tree lined country road. The sun was still bright, but the angle of light was low to the west and illuminating the bright colours of the fast-changing leaves. The tops of the trees were bright, but the roadway was in dusky twilight. There is a spectacular beauty in the long shadows and bright colours, but it is also tinged with sadness that twilight is coming earlier each day as fall marches toward winter.
In the past couple of months our road has had lots of murky twilight relieved by moments of bright joy. I conducted two funerals and interments where we grieved together for the missing one, but infants and children in the service and at the graveyard brightened the gloom.
As the missing ones were lowered into the ground the children were quiet but soon were running on the grass and playing, they’re voices of joy bringing us light in the darkness.
As we drive down the roads of fall’s twilight, we are renewed inwardly with the joy of many around us, by the inner glory of the very present Jesus who says, “Come to me as little children and I will give you rest and comfort and the power to persevere.”
A Prayer for Today
God of light and comfort, we live in murky twilight trying to love and care in a world of anxiety and anger. You walked the roads of sorrow and joy in Jesus as he wept with those who wept and laughed and ate and drank with those who celebrated. Let us follow him into the twilight days knowing there is still light and the darkness will not overcome it … for Jesus’ sake
