Darkness and Light (Mindy Swanson- April 13, 2020)

Darkness and Light by Mindy Swanson: 

Darkness.  The absence of everything.

Emptiness that is somehow crushing.

Imagine the presence of absolutely nothing.

And then light is spoken into being.

The universe explodes with possibilities

A garden of light, all brightness and color 

And the people there happy with each other

And with the bright creator’s presence and cover 

Until darkness creeps back in 

With the voice of doubt and mistrust

Knowledge gained by sin

Pain and shame and people adjust

Into a world of gloom, 

away from the source of all that is right

Darkness grows and consumes

But hope continues to fight

Promises are made that God continues to keep

But his people want something more cheap

A way is made back to how it was before 

But no one is strong enough to open that door.

Then a miracle, 

The creator of light comes to earth

A billion suns contained in one birth

The light walks and laughs and gives guidance

Heals and cries and fear is silenced

Everything promised is again on the horizon

Every life touched feels realigned 

defiant towards anything holding them back from this alliance

Look around, open your eyes to this triumph this 

And then its dark

And the night is all the darker for the short taste of the sun.

For three days hope is expunged, the world is plunged

Into confusion, unable to see stumbling again was this the plan?

A tomb, heavy rock closing out 

all life left he said it would happen 

but there were doubts

The vail was torn heaven came down

But what about the darkness of death all around?

Mary goes to the tomb, heart in hand

Ready to mourn but God had other plans

The grave is open, no longer dark.

Light has forced its way out and in and the spark

Of hope is fanned back Into a flame a fire out of our control

The light emptied its home to make each of us whole

Door opened, walls crumbled and the soul

Can see and feel and taste the light on its own

So it slowly spreads, this story of love

People are awoken told to open their eyes 

Taught how to be free of 

Guilt and sorrow and hurt and need

By accepting what Jesus did in this simple impossible deed

and the dark the light will always defeat.

A Prayer:

Father God, I thank you for being my light and giving us Jesus the light of this world.  I thank you for raising Him from the grave so that we would all know your light can't be extinguished.  Lord I pray for all those who are feeling in the dark right now, whether they know you or not, I pray that you would visit them and cast out any fear, depression, hopelessness, bitterness or sickness that the Enemy is pushing on them.  And I pray that You would speak loudly and command each of us who know You in how best to shine your light to others in this time.  Give us wisdom lord, but more than anything give us your heart for each of your children.  Amen.