In the stillness of the morning, before the day’s concerns and obligations press in, there is a silence, a listening, an acute awareness of presence, of simply being.
Reverence.
Dawn unfolds.
Light slips into dark corners.
The world waits with hushed breath.
Awakening.
The birds begin.
The winds moan and sigh.
The leaves dance, restless to respond.
And in the felt language of the Spirit,
words melt into understanding:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV)
Sensitivities heightened beyond compare, my heart reaches out in deepest gratitude.
Help me grasp this to my innermost being; and so preserve in me this presence, this closeness, this assurance. And at the end of the day, no matter the concerns and obligations, return me to this protective stance and promise.
In your Holy name, I pray, Creator and Companion.
Photo and words, Carolyn Venema © 2014
(photo of the early morning sunrise the night of my father-in-law’s death)
