Light in the Darkness The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) Tuesday, Second Week after Pentecost Almighty and eternal God, Father of the world to come, your goodness is beyond what our spirit can touch, your strength is more than the mind can bear, and your light overcomes every shadow of our darkness. Lead us to seek beyond our reach and give us the courage to stand firmly within your truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Dear friends, John’s gospel opens with a statement about Jesus. He is the Living Word of God, the Creator of all things. Then John says, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) In these dark and unclear moments, in the midst of a world-wide pandemic and racial tensions, we need light. Jesus has come to bring light and life to every person. Will people in the world look to him? How about you and me? I pray that God will draw our hearts to his light so that we may be healed and find grace and every blessing. I was sent a painting this week by Ken Fay. Ken is an extraordinary child of God who was “blessed” with being a part of several of our national disasters, not only going through these events, but ministering first-hand to those who were traumatized by these events. He gave me permission to share this with you as well as the description of what it means. Be blessed. In Christ, Pastor Langdon Reinke “Light in the darkness” (Painting by Ken Fay as shown above) + The growing branches represent our journey through life…it’s many twists and turns. + The white flower petals our innocence…some of those petals blowing away in the wind from trauma and fears. + The yellow centers of those flowers are the lights of Hope within us that reignite those joys of innocence. + The lantern is the ever present Light of Love, Grace, and Mercy from our Heavenly Father which is always near. + The lantern has three crosses in its center and the warm Light cannot be contained within. I painted this awhile back in a therapeutic moment working through traumatic events. Grateful to all who walk along these branches with me and point the way to that ever present Lantern. (Ken Fay) |