Monday, December 21, 2020

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

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