Look out the window for a second…
At
7:16pm today, the sun set…
It
has set the mood…
With
this darkness, we are placed where
we find Mary,
where Jesus finds Mary.
More
than that,
where God most often finds God’s
people,
where God most often acts on our
behalf—either literally or metaphorically…
From the beginning this is where God
acts…
God
acts, “While it was still dark.”
While it was still dark.
Prayer
While it was still dark
—Formless and void
—chaos shaded in gray, waiting
impatiently.
In
the darkness of the first morning, between nothing and chaos—God acts!
God
moves nothing into something and
neutrality into goodness.
While it was still dark.
God
transforms the formless and trains up chaos!
Light,
Sky, Sea, Fecundity, Time, Life, Species, People, Rest…
Look out that window—While it was still dark, God acted.
While it was still dark, there on the
bank of the sea.
People
afraid, crying out as the Egyptians pressed forward,
people prepared to die.
On
the banks there, a strange darkness
—God a fearful sight, horrific the
Angel of the Lord
—a pillar of cloud and lightening
—a thunderous thing standing between
God’s people and those who would endanger them.
While it was still dark, a darkness lit
from the inside,
God’s powerful presence
—fire and cloud, bringing his people
across the sea on the dry ground.
God saving them from the Egyptians…
Look out that window—While it was still dark, God acted.
While it was still dark
In
the poverty of Babylon,
doing work that would not be paid for,
being strangers in a strange land,
hungering and thirsting for freedom,
and for home.
While it was still dark, those who felt
forsaken and captured, were found by God.
Were
offered free bread,
free wine,
free milk,
free water,
freedom!
Offered
words of
return,
redemption,
release…
Look out that window—While it was still dark, God acted.
While it was still dark
—the darkest of times emblazed by the
violent light of Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace, three men, faithful, and for their
faithfulness punishment.
All the over the top power of
Nebuchadnezzar
—his royal court over-stuffed with
Satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, justices, magistrates,
and provincial officials,
overshadowing the faithfulness of these men,
the band… horn, pipe, lyre, trigon,
harp, drum and everything else,
dampening the promises of God
the wideness of his empire, peoples,
nations, and languages,
strangling the hopes of God’s people
While it was still dark, God enters
into the flame, protecting Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the face of
brightest, hottest, deadliest flame, four men unbound, unhurt, walk in the
middle of the fire…
Look out that window—While it was still dark, God
acted.
While it was still dark, Mary goes to
the tomb of Jesus her Teacher and friend. The disciples come, they are
befuddled by it all—an empty tomb.
And
then there she is, alone again, outside the tomb.
Alone and wondering what it all
means.
Alone,
and then,
then the strange stuff of dawn appear, angels dressed in white,
and a gardener, all telling her to stop crying.
Stop
crying?
Don’t they know, what she’s lost?
who she’s lost!
While it was still dark, he answers her
righteous, wounded, question.
Answers
her by name, and there he is.
Her
teacher,
her friend,
her Lord!
There, while it was still dark, God acts!
…Look
out that window—While it was still
dark, God acted.
While it was still dark—important
words to hold onto.
It
can be dark, metaphorically and literally.
Dusks
and dawns, empty times… chaotic times.
If
you think you live a life without them, you probably are in a shadow so deep
you don’t realize you’re in it.
Yet,
the resurrection itself, happened then, happens there!
Creation,
crossing the Red Sea, Babylon
stymied, saved from exile!
Our
story, our witness, our reality…
Look out that window,
While it was still dark, God acted…
Again! Look out that window,
While it is still dark, God acts!
A+A
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