Today, when summer as we understand it , bracketed by two holidays, is over, we, in Yakima, are in the dark. Smoke from wildfires has made the sun an orange/red disc and the air quality has been declared “hazardous”. This means that we have been told to stay inside with air conditioning on and all windows closed if possible. Now, for those without AC, they recommend leaving town. How, on earth, if you can’t afford air conditioning , would you have the means to leave town? Our lights and AC are on, our windows are closed and it’s like living in an alternative universe. Adding to that is North Korea and the repeal of DACA.
And, also, all of the reflections and readings have to do with darkness. Well! when I reached in the drawer of my nightstand, looking for my secret chocolate stash, my whole outlook took a bounce up as my fingers touched a little white plastic rosary.
Many years ago when the, soon to be thirteen, lovely Molly Elizabeth was only five, she came skipping into my house on my birthday, eyes shining and clutching a little gift bag. “Nana, I got you a birthday present at the school fair. I know you’ll love it.” She plunged that little hand into the bag (no time to wait here) and out came the rosary. ” Look, it lights up, so now you can pray in the dark.” Little did she know that my prayer life had been oh so ho hum for months. I recently read a quote from Dante that described it: “In the middle of life, I found myself in a dark wood.” {1}. So, when this cherub messenger from beyond dangled the gift in front of me I recognized the sender and knew I could pray in the dark.
There is always something to light the way…even a “glow-in-the-dark” rosary. Sometimes, that something is us.
Word for the darkness: Isaiah 58:10 “Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.”
Light up your spot on this planet. Amen for today and Be Holy
A Word to the Weary 