Dawn on Us

All the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. Isaiah 9:5

The dawn from on high will guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78–79

REFLECTION:
Today is Epiphany, the day we remember the "Wise Men" (or Magi) following the star to the manger's side.

All throughout the Scriptures, light is used as a sign and a symbol of God's providence, love, and truth. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

I find the passage from Luke 1 (above) to be one of the most beautiful moments of this sign. Here's the entire quote:

"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

This is part of Zechariah's song, following his temporarily mute state. He names his son John (John the Baptist, as we call him), and he praises God for the things God will do through this in-breaking Kingdom.

But it's that phrase that touches my heart: "The dawn from on high will break upon us."

Today, that's my prayer for myself, and for you who read these words...that wherever in your life it seems too dark to find the path, the light will dawn, even if it is like the first cracks of dawn, enough to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And more important that this being my prayer for us, it is God's promise to us. The dawn from on high WILL break upon us. The darkness will not overcome it.

The darkness of war will not overcome it (read Isaiah - the boots of the tramping warriors will be burned).
The darkness of personal struggle will not overcome it.
The darkness of pain, or illness, or even death will not overcome it.

Today, I'm going to be watching for the flickers of the dawn in the darkness. And I'm going to do my best to put one foot in front of the other as I am guided in the way of peace.

May we walk this path together.

PRAYER:
Holy God with us, thank you for the light of your love that you cause to live in our hearts. Help us to shine this light into the darkness of the world in which we live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

(Note: The picture above is from the path to Picnic Point at UW-Madison)