Let the Light of Faith Shine Brighter
Several months ago, I shared with you a prayer written by The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston. At that time, I did not mention anything about him. Briefly, let me do so now. He is the retired Episcopal Bishop of Alaska, an Elder of the Choctaw Nation and a Native American. He was the Dean of Episcopal Divinity School and an academic.
“How dark these days seem to so many.”
That’s how he began a devotion of his own several weeks ago. “The old reality becomes the new reality through the fog of war, of retreat and realignment. The earth shakes and an already crippled society struggles to stay on its feet. The wind blows and whole towns are consumed by fire, the cinder and the ash testimony of a hotter world. A pandemic continues amid a political hinge-point between ideology and reason. Which way will it go? How dark these days seem to so many.”
On that morning several weeks ago, I read his words. I sat with them. I was stunned by them. In a few sentences, he captured the essence of what so many of us seem to be feeling these days: fear, worry. Which way will it go?
I sat with his words. I prayed about what he had said. After several days, I felt called to respond and these were the words given to me.
What he said made me want to stand a little taller, reach just a little higher and let the light of our faith shine just a little brighter. Dark days are for what faith was made; we are not naïve about what we face and our faith will not let us be afraid. The work to come will be long and hard, but, as believers, we are used to that – to respond, to repair, to renew, to create light out of darkness. This is our time and, as people of faith, our calling.
Let us pray:
Almighty and Eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, page 832)
