Running In The Dark

Good evening sisters and brothers,

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying this beautiful summer evening. I am sitting at my desk in my office at Dunblane, enjoying the light breeze drifting in through the open window and listening to the melodic sounds of crickets, tree frogs, toads and cicadas. 

Last night I decided to go for a run at the cemetery at dusk. As I arrived, the sun was already making its exit on the western horizon, handing over the reigns to the beautiful crescent moon. 

Yesterday would have been my mother's 101st birthday. I had been thinking about her all day. She was on my mind as I started my run. I decided that I would try to best my time on a 12 kilometre run as a way to expend some energy and to deal with the sadness that I was feeling. I ended up shattering my record by a full three minutes. The road through the cemetery is beautiful, filled with twists and turns. Not long into my run I had a sense that something was above me. In the penumbra of the fading light, I looked up and saw a bald eagle flying at treetop level. Its white head and bright yellow were clearly visible. It flew ahead for a couple of seconds, then made an impossibly graceful 180 turn and headed back toward me. It came to rest on a branch of a pine tree not ten feet from me. It looked down at me for what seemed to be the longest time, then effortlessly took to the air and disappeared. I continued my run, emboldened by the visit from this spirit bird. 

As I continued running, the dusk gave way to nightfall and the cemetery was suddenly enveloped in darkness, like a thick fog that comes ashore on balmy nights. One by one , the little dawn to dusk lights that are on most of the grave stones began to flicker on. It was incredibly moving. By the time I finished my run, gutted but exhilarated, the cemetery reminded me of a city seen at night from an airplane. Each little light represents love. It also represents loss. For those grieving tonight, may the light of the Risen Christ give you strength. 

Putting a light on the gravestones is a wonderful idea. It reminds me of the verses from psalm 129. 

" If I say, Surely the darkness will cover me,

 and the light around me turn to night. 

 Darkness is not dark to you

the night is as bright as the day

darkness and light to you are both alike"

Let us pray 

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us 

through the silent hours of this night, so that

we who are wearied by the changes and 

chances of this fleeting world, may repose

upon thy eternal changelessness, through

Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen 

Dios me los bendiga 

Paz 

I love you 

John