Blessing for the Longest Night

December 21, 2020

 

Here’s the thing: 

there will always be a 

longest

darkest

night

(even in a year of long, dark nights)

and we are not the first 

nor will this be the last time

to live through

sleep through

breathe

cry

hold a hand

through

a long, dark, cold, lonely night

we lament the cold, the dark, the un-ending-ness

we keen, we cry, we rage, we rant

yet

there is nothing we can do

to stop the turning of the earth

the cycling of the seasons

the passing of the days

the moments flitting by

Here’s another thing:

even the longest, darkest night

has some light in it

a light at the end of the hall

a light next to the bed

a light above the door

there is always a glimmer of welcome

in the middle of a long, dark journey

lights along the street 

guiding us home

lights far above our heads

those infinite eternal lights

that twinkle and sparkle

(to our earthly eyes) 

even when we can’t see them

EVEN WHEN WE CAN’T SEE THEM

because our eyes are closed

our heads are bowed

we are looking down instead of up

where there is always

always

a light shining

even if today is simply not the day

to believe in the light we cannot see

and a tomorrow that won’t be much different

but 

those infinite eternal lights

that make us *gasp* 

when we happen to look up

look way up

(with our earthly eyes)

that speak to us of possibilities

and transformation

and courage

are always there

like breath

and tears

and laughter

a hand to hold

also a shimmer of curiousity 

not if 

but how

we will live through

the longest, darkest night

(even in a year of long, dark nights) 

there

in the radiance

of the unknown

we linger

realizing 

we are the light-bearers

(even in a year of long, dark nights)

~ by Sara Jewell