Today is the shortest day of the year. Today is the longest night of the year. Just typing the words makes my bones hurt and my heart heavy. Today I feel like I have a number of people in my life who are experiencing a stripping down, a confussion, a “dark night of the soul”. Light feels missing, guidance feels lacking, and darkness feels eminent. The darkening reality of the physical world seems to fit well with the confusion and darkness of the soul.

We need light to break through.

And so today I celebrate Winter Solstice by remembering that light is coming back into the world. From this day forth light will slowly, but steadily, grow. Each day will bring more of its warmth; each day will bring more of its clarity. Today marks the turning of the tides.

And so today I pray this for my friends and for myself…

Lord, hold the darkness at bay. Say unto the night, “This far shall thou come and NO farther.” Speak life, and light unto our hearts. Father, light the path before us, we don’t need to know the whole way, but give us light to see the next step. Spirit, break through the cold, the dark, the heavy, and lighten the load. We moan for light. We moan for grace. We moan for You, Lord, Jesus. Come, light of the world. Come. Amen.

Rejoicing in the journey - Bethany Stedman