It is late, and I’m in my study at church.
I’m here listening for words from the Word to preach
Sunday.
As I sit in the growing darkness, and between records
spinning on my record player, I heard the carillon playing.
It silenced me. It stopped me. It moved me.
The song?
“All Creatures of Our God and King” [I think]
I prayed.
I praised God—thank goodness no one was here to hear me do
so.
I lit a candle and thanked God.
I remembered this line as the darkness settles in for the
night:
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer
gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
I thanked God for Roger Boss, who keeps the ‘bells’ singing.
I thanked God for the return of the Light.
I thanked God for the gifts of love that surround me, this
church and the community.
I looked up the hymn. And these words stuck out:
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a
voice
O praise Him, O praise Him
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
I prayed for those of you who are buried in darkness—those of
you are grieving the loss of a loved one, those of you who are overwhelmed with
all that comes with a start to a new year, and those of you who are anxious,
worried, or even scared with all that is happening in the world.
Remember, beloved friends, when you know not what to pray or
even how to pray—the Spirit prays on our behalf.
Remember, child of God, when you can’t praise God—your family
of faith, prays and sings on your behalf.
And we will until you emerge on the other side.
Which, as improbable as it seems now, you will—with a few
bruises and bumps—but you will.
As the darkness gets darker, as Friday grows even later—call
creation sings of God’s praises for the way God saves, moves, and loves us.
Even when that love appears absent.
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, three in
one
O praise Him, O praise Him
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
The light shines in the darkness. The Word promises us that…
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