Lent - Keep it simple

Clouds of Darkness

Psalm 18:28 For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

If you want to gather all your desire into one simple word that the mind can easily retain, choose a short word rather than a long one. A one-syllable word such as ‘God’ or ‘love’ is best. But choose one that is meaningful to you.  Then fix it in your mind so that it will remain there come what may. This will be your defence in conflict and in peace. Use it to be upon the cloud of darkness above you and to subdue all distractions, consigning them to the cloud of forgetting beneath you.

Should some thought go on annoying you demanding to know what you are doing, answer with the one word alone. If your mind begins to intellectualise over the meaning and connotations of this little war, remind yourself that its value lies in its simplicity.  Do this and I assure you these thoughts will vanish.  Why, because you have refused to develop them with arguing.

This action of centring your attention on the blind awareness of your naked being united to God’s, you will go about your daily rounds, eating and drinking, sleeping and waking, going and coming, speaking and listening, lying down and rising up, standing and kneeling running and riding, working and resting. In the midst of it all, you will be offering to God continually each day the most precious gift you can make. This work will be at the heart of everything you do, whether active or contemplative.

Prayer: God of light, with you there is no darkness. Your character has no shadows, and you are pure and good. Yet in our broken world, we see so much darkness around us. Pain, sickness, and disease are in our community and in many of our homes.

Bring your light and restoring presence to the dark places in our lives. Bring your hope to hearts that feel defeated. Bring your love and compassion to those in pain.

Give us faith to say with the psalmist, “Lord, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.” May your light of hope shine in the darkness for families today. Show us glimpses of your presence with us and the comfort you bring.

In the busyness of today, help us to take a moment to be still and sit with you. To slow down, breathe deeply, and release our burdens to your strong hand. You are trustworthy, good, and true, and we thank you for caring for us so deeply and beautifully. Open our eyes to see you at work today. Give us your light.

In Jesus name, Amen.