top of page

Friday, December 18


Margaret Shaw

Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth the by the way that thou shouldest go.

How can I be led when I am standing still? Where can I go, when I cannot go anywhere? These are questions that my angry child-self asks in reading this scripture. At eight months into pandemic-induced life-style change, I am weary, I am worn, I am sad. And I’m feeling rebellious towards trying to have a meaningful Advent, with all the “usual” parts stripped away: the hymns, the excitement of the children, the prayers prayed in pews beside friends of many years and friends newly met.


And yet—here we are. Here I am. And, thanks be, here God is also. Into the darkness and uncertainty of this full-blown, global pandemic: God. Is. Here. And if I will but put out my hand and my heart, God will lead me in the way I should go: toward the Light that is Jesus, love incarnate, love universal, love unfailing, love never-ending.


My prayer for this Advent: Help me to reach for you, God of Love. Help me to surrender to being led, and let me see and learn from this journey with you. Amen.

bottom of page