I was walking through the den when I stepped on it. In my hurried rush to get to the kitchen, I hadn’t turned on the light. I walk that path many times a day so I know the way even in the shadows: straight out of my room, hug the wall on the left to move around the first chair, slightly bear to the right to miss the second chair, then straight on until the warmth of the carpet gives way to the cold kitchen floor. Time has erased my specific errand for that night, but I remember moving quickly and I remember the dark – dark that had provided me with false security.
The dimness had hidden the danger, but it was there waiting for my contact. The hazard was neither flat nor spongy, and my bare foot provided no protection. Hard and round it was, and the laws of physics could only offer me one outcome. As I rolled across the kitchen floor with no hope of recovery, I was reintroduced to my familiar nemesis: gravity.
I’m a good faller. I’ve been falling down as long as I can remember and have much experience in how to do it well. Tuck and roll is second nature to me as most of my falls happen in a slow motion fashion allowing me time to assume the safest position. Even in my current state of middle age, I typically am up almost as quickly as I go down.
This fall was different. I knew it the moment my right foot landed on that silly dog bone in the middle of the dark. No time to tuck; I was already rolling. I landed on my left shoulder with incredible force and immediately knew that this pain would be lasting a long while… and all because I was gullible enough to trust the dark.
1 John 1 reminds me that trusting the dark is never my best option – whether I’m wandering through my home on a midnight errand or wandering through my days thinking I know where I’m headed. John reminds me that God doesn’t simply provide the light; God IS light. In God there is no darkness at all. ”But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Purifies – what a holy word. To replace it with words such as cleans, filters, or sanitizes, doesn’t do justice. Purifies: makes pure, without blemish, without blame – those are the strong sentiments needed here. When we walk in the light of Jesus, we are pure and without blame.
A passage from the Dead Sea Scrolls reiterates John’s theme: “All the children of righteousness are ruled by the Prince of Light and walk in the ways of light, but all the children of falsehood are ruled by the Angel of Darkness and walk in the ways of darkness.”[1]
While these scrolls are not all considered scripture, the significance remains. Coupled with John's words, I am strongly encouraged to remember to whom I belong. During this holiest season of Lent, I will remember that each of us belongs to the Light. May we walk through these weeks free from hidden hazards and without falling.
Working to remain upright,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 25
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. Good and upright are you; therefore you instruct sinners in his ways. You guide the humble in what is right and teaches them your way. All your ways are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of your covenant. Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 25 – All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
Daniel 9:1-14 – The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him….
1 John 1 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html
[1] The Qumran Manual of Discipline or Community Rule: 1QS 3, translation by Geza Vermes.
The dimness had hidden the danger, but it was there waiting for my contact. The hazard was neither flat nor spongy, and my bare foot provided no protection. Hard and round it was, and the laws of physics could only offer me one outcome. As I rolled across the kitchen floor with no hope of recovery, I was reintroduced to my familiar nemesis: gravity.
I’m a good faller. I’ve been falling down as long as I can remember and have much experience in how to do it well. Tuck and roll is second nature to me as most of my falls happen in a slow motion fashion allowing me time to assume the safest position. Even in my current state of middle age, I typically am up almost as quickly as I go down.
This fall was different. I knew it the moment my right foot landed on that silly dog bone in the middle of the dark. No time to tuck; I was already rolling. I landed on my left shoulder with incredible force and immediately knew that this pain would be lasting a long while… and all because I was gullible enough to trust the dark.
1 John 1 reminds me that trusting the dark is never my best option – whether I’m wandering through my home on a midnight errand or wandering through my days thinking I know where I’m headed. John reminds me that God doesn’t simply provide the light; God IS light. In God there is no darkness at all. ”But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Purifies – what a holy word. To replace it with words such as cleans, filters, or sanitizes, doesn’t do justice. Purifies: makes pure, without blemish, without blame – those are the strong sentiments needed here. When we walk in the light of Jesus, we are pure and without blame.
A passage from the Dead Sea Scrolls reiterates John’s theme: “All the children of righteousness are ruled by the Prince of Light and walk in the ways of light, but all the children of falsehood are ruled by the Angel of Darkness and walk in the ways of darkness.”[1]
While these scrolls are not all considered scripture, the significance remains. Coupled with John's words, I am strongly encouraged to remember to whom I belong. During this holiest season of Lent, I will remember that each of us belongs to the Light. May we walk through these weeks free from hidden hazards and without falling.
Working to remain upright,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 25
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. Good and upright are you; therefore you instruct sinners in his ways. You guide the humble in what is right and teaches them your way. All your ways are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of your covenant. Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 25 – All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
Daniel 9:1-14 – The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him….
1 John 1 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html
[1] The Qumran Manual of Discipline or Community Rule: 1QS 3, translation by Geza Vermes.