In this night the stars left their habitual places
And kindled wildfire tidings that spread faster than sound.
In this night the shepherds left their posts
To shout the new slogans into each other’s clogged ears.
In this night the foxes left their warm burrows
And the lion spoke with deliberation
“This is the end revolution.”
In this night roses fooled the earth
And began to bloom in the snow.
—Dorothee Solle
What is, against all reason, blooming for you?
Imagine those Jews of long ago, watching and waiting as the oil that was only sufficient for one day burned for eight. Waiting for the light to go out, as night after night it just kept stubbornly burning.
When has your waiting led to more than you dared to hope?
The time to open is coming, but it isn’t here yet. And until that time arrives a circle of thorns might just be the best way to remain safe.
How do you keep yourself safe while waiting for circumstances to change?
“Waiting is a period of learning. The longer we wait, the more we hear about [the one] for whom we are waiting.” —Henri Nouwen
What have you learned while waiting?
On this longest night of the year the world takes a deep breath, resting in the shadows for a moment before tipping, ever so slightly, toward morning.
Take a deep breath. How will you appreciate this particular moment, dark or bright as it is, before it tips toward something new?
