Sing, pray against the dying of the light

 

Wearing a tiara with pink fluff, she stands by balloons, smiling. It’s her 95th birthday, and she bought cake for the whole congregation. Her whole demeanor is one of joy and gratitude. 

Later in Sunday school, pastor-daddy says “I’m not sure I’ll be that giggly when I'm 95!” and I quip, “Hun, you’re not that giggly NOW!”

How can this be? 95 years in this broken place and she shines with joy!
She has buried friends, seen dreams crushed, lived upheavals and yet still she laughs, she smiles at the future!

Another dear saint, this one “only” 93, tells me she’s decided it’s time to move into a home. I offer her words meant to acknowledge the grief that must go with this big move, but she just smiles and pats my hand. “The Lord carried me through the war. He will go with me in this.”

This is the work of God, surely. To take those who have every reason to be crushed by this world and hold them up, make them smile and sing even in the face of tragedy. 

This is no small miracle. 
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Earlier this week, I read this poem and I was captivated by the rhythm of it:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
-- Dylan Thomas

The passion of these words resonates: but rage… rage is not the right word, not for the faithful saint at close of day. Rage is for those who do not know their maker, who fight the horrible wrongness of death alone and are crushed by it. Rage is removed for the Christian, melted into trust, because of Jesus who absorbs it on the cross. The resurrection cancels rage and rewrites our natural song into something like this….

Do not go grumbling into that good night,
Old age can shine and say at close of day:
Pray, laugh against the dying of the light.

So Christians at their end know dark is bright,
Because the Word says “it is finished,” they
Do not go hopeless into that good night.

Women, with decades by, alive by His might 
Their frail deeds in His hands like piles of clay
Pray, smile against the dying of the light.

And you, dear sisters, there on the lofty height,
Guide, bless us now with faithful songs, we pray
Do not go hopeless into that good night.
Sing, laugh against the dying of the light.

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photo by Eldon Cook, Ohio River 2020

Whatever: a call to war

These words are a call to war:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil 4:8)

Those words never sounded like a battle cry to me until I had kids. 

They sound like words for the beach: breath deeply, think lovely thoughts, relax. In
hale blessings, exhale gratitude. Repeat.

Now I see these words as a call to violence. 

Are we not at war? Here, in the trenches, living in the wreckage of this world with fellow sinners, are we not engaged in a relentless battle against the darkness?

Darkness covers us all like smog, suffocates like a mask, tears at us inside like a disease, ravages our loved ones, our families, our nation. 

The battle is personal and close: it is in our very thoughts. 

On what will we mediate? 

Will we let our minds follow their natural bent, and ruminate on the darkness?

Or will we receive the armor that is given

the Word like a sword and a shield

the Spirit’s power like muscles we don’t have

strong enough FIGHT, gloves off;

to punch Despair in his stupid face

and give Depression a wedgie

and gather all our Enemies

into timeout, for eternity.

While we simply hold fast

Stand firm

and SEE.

Whatever. is. true.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:10-17)

Take heart, friends.

God will finish this thing.