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.