Scan for the Light

04Dec
The people who walked in darkness
  have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
  on them light has shined. - Isaiah 9:2

A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
  make straight in the desert a highway for our God. -Isaiah 40:3


This is a dark time. For some of us it is a time of illness and grief. For some a time of fear and hunger….and cold. For some, like me, it is a time of supreme inconvenience! About a month ago some signs went up on our block saying that our street would not have any parking from Oct 22 - Nov 22, due to repairs. (The year was not indicated!) The following day, big machines began tearing at the asphalt and digging the street to replace possible lead pipes with PVC.  


I said to myself, finally after years of waiting, and dodging potholes, and temporary fixes, the way would be made straight. I was determined to remain hopeful for the future and focus on what was to come - rather than the dust, noise, and inability to park at home. First world problems, right?


However, this week (week 5 and counting) we are still in the leveling stage and while progress is being made, the “straight highway” of our desire is still a far way off. And it’s getting colder. And it rained. And my car died. And I left my computer at home. And there isn’t enough time. And I am distracted by many things. Including the blocked streets throughout our neighborhood due to replacement of utility poles.


So on Monday morning when I was out walking, I was kind of expecting - well, moredarkness! Maybe in some unconscious way I was even looking for it! However, in this season of Hope, here is what I found instead. As I walked our house guest, Buddy, in the neighborhood, I met a shivering young school girl (too early for school to be open) with an infectious smile who wanted to pet my “cute” dog. I walked past a utility worker and he told me about his sister’s dog, and wished me a Blessed Day! In fact, nearly everyone I passed offered a friendly greeting. What I found instead of darkness was delight!


My friend, Sandra, has often told me that “what we scan for - we will find”. There is a lot of darkness around at this time of year. Sometimes, it can stop us in our tacks. But maybe if we scan for the Light and stop to notice, its radiance may surprise us.


Musical Reflection - The people that Walked in Darkness, Handel Philippe Sly, Soloist


Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it. Amen.

-from Sometimes, by Mary Oliver

JoyComfort

Posted by Maria Elliott

Maria Elliott has been Trinity since 1994, first as a parishioner and then for sixteen years establishing the office of stewardship and development, and currently as the Director of Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life. 

WIth a degree in Music and Business from Drake University in her native state of Iowa, Maria went first to New York to work for a concert artist management and then for the Arts department at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  At the Cathedral, Maria was confirmed, met and married her husband, The Reverend Michael Kuhn, and began an accidental career in the Episcopal Church. She has served on the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, the boards of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, as a Stephen Minister, and currently Education for Ministry Mentor.

Maria’s interests include playing the oboe in the New Orleans Civic Symphony and she is currently training to be a Narrative Enneagram mentor. Her daughters, Hallie Wilkins and Sophie Bedaña are Trinity School alumni. Maria has two grandchildren, Celeste and Alden Wilkins.

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