Joyful Ruins

We always talk about the end

but what about the now?

The light is coming

the sun will rise

but what about the night?

What about the darkness

we find ourselves in?

Can we speak about it?

Can we sit inside it?

And still have hope

to press on

in the darkness

Know that tomorrow

might not bring a brighter day

The church too often

tells us

when speaking of darkness

that there is a light

at the end of the tunnel

tears will be dried

and Jesus will come

Don’t get me wrong

these are truths

and we must look forward to them

and proclaim them

But Jesus came

as Immanuel

God with us

God in the dark

He did not come into the light

He came into a dark barn

a dark world

So let us not brush past the dark

we are living in it

and we need to speak about

living in the dark

not because we have no hope

but because we do

so let’s practice that

as we walk in the dark

for as long as we are called to