It is fair to say that in the last week I have moved from saying 'Happy New Year' to 'the weather is really dismal isn't it'. After the snow has come the rain and it feels like we are spending day after day in overcast conditions. As my father would say, "when it starts raining it doesn't know when to stop."
Many of us will be keen to see the days lengthen and signs of spring, however small, emerging. Many of us long for a bit more light in the current darkness.
And that is true metaphorically as well as literally.
On Monday, Epiphany came to an end, with the celebration of Jesus being presented at the temple. Simeon describes Jesus as a light for revelation. It picks up on Isaiah's prophecy:
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
With all that is happening in the world at the moment, from deadly conflicts to geopolitical ructions, from the murky world of Jeffrey Epstein to the treatment of the most vulnerable in our societies, there is much to lament. We are being bombarded day after day with news that weighs heavily on our hearts. And we may feel like we are living in the land of deep darkness.
I love the line in Psalm 139 - 'even the darkness will not be dark to you'. We trust in a God who is our light and our salvation. Our hope, peace, joy and love, come from Him. And the darkness does not overcome Him, which is a wonderful truth to hold on to as an encouragement.
You can find out more about 'Leave a Light On 2026' in the Presbytery Weekly. It is a very simple way of reminding ourselves and sharing with others, our desire for a world that isn't as dark as it is right now.
Rev Stella
