But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.

-Exodus 1:17

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Here at the beginning of the Exodus story, the midwives chose life over death, love over fear, God over king. And because the women, the midwives, risked everything for life, a little baby boy was born. This baby was Moses who led the people of God out of Egypt, through dangerous waters, and into freedom. Freedom does not come without a price. Now that the people were free, what would they do? Where would they go? How would they know the way? The people of God suffered under the pharaoh's harsh rule but at least they knew when to eat, when to work, when to sleep, and when to wake. They are now free from the oppression of their time and place but they don't know which way to go. Freedom becomes wilderness. Sometimes the only way we can hear God's voice is when we are in the wilderness.

Adagio - J.S. Bach on a theme of Marcello

Be present, Spirit of God, within us, your dwelling place and home, that this house may be one where all darkness is penetrated by your light, all troubles calmed by your peace, all evil redeemed by your love, all pain transformed in your suffering, and all dying glorified in your risen life. Amen.

- A night prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book