Signs of Life and Hope: A Reflection

The past thirty-six hours have been tremendously difficult for us. You don’t realize how much a wee puppy impacts your life until she is gone. Pixie’s physical body is gone but she is so present with us in memories and in our hearts.

Looking for signs of life when you are walking through the Valley of the Shadows can be a challenge (can you say massive understatement?!). Beginning in January of this year we have said good-bye to Denise’s close friend Joyce, her Dad, her former mother-in-law and our close friend Betty, and now Pixie. We buried and held hands of so many who were dying in Florida and Colorado as a part of my calling as a pastor. Denise was with my Mom when she died and we were with her Mom who waited until the family was getting some food to take her last breath.

As I reflect… as I shed tears… as I search my heart for the Spirit’s wisdom and strength… I found comfort in today’s reading from A Year With Thomas Merton.

And while I was standing there, quails began to whistle all over the field and in the wood. I had not heard any for weeks and thought sure they were all dead, for there have been hunters everywhere. No, there they are! Signs of life, of gentleness, of helplessness, of providence, of love. They just keep on existing and loving and making more quails and whistling in the bushes. (A Search for Solitude, November 7, 1965)

As the Gospel of John says… The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)

Shine your light of life, hope, and grace dear Lord in our hearts.