New Light

December 21st came unwelcomed

here in Frederick, Maryland

the bleak, dreary solstice of winter

our longest night

15 hours and 37 minutes of chilled darkness

the depths of winter, here in our town.

Cold blue blackness

frost and bitter wind

a howling, frozen hurricane

here, in blesséd Yellow Springs.

But in December

every small candle

whispers hope,

every little string of sparkling lights

sings a silent expectation:

The longest night must end sometime,

And that sometime is soon.

Now each new day brings more brightness

Every new week: seven more minutes of fresh daylight

Spring is coming!

Look past white January to pink February

And then to wild, blooming March –

Sun and wind and wonder!

So in the darkness of my anxious nights

When pains and fears and worries hide the sun

When hope seems gone, I still lie down in hope

When faith seems dead, I still rise up with faith

New light has come, and more is soon to come!

Our Father God is not silent –

He even speaks on windy winter nights

He even soothes in frosty darkness

He shouts and thunders with the rising Son

Perfect love and perfect light in Jesus.