Sunday, December 31, 2017

After Christmas spiritual journey, lessons gleaned......
Impressions: Light and shadow
the effort to get to a place
indescribable beauty along the way,
the value of silence,
revelations along the trek or hike
Over the course of the five days, chapter one of the gospel of John as well as a couple of other scriptures have been in my heart. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit I have attempted to put my impressions together.
Light and shadow is a part of every hike with the sun shining around mountains and through trees. The sunlight is a warmer place in winter but the shadows are always a part of the hike. Every journey or trek requires effort to get to a destination. A person simply cannot wish themselves there. No, it is a one step at a time, one decision at a time for one who journeys in the back country. Yet along the way there is indescribable beauty that refreshes the soul and gives strength and desire as well as determination to continue to the destination. However, in particular for me the value of this journey both physically and spiritually lies in the silence.
In the silence I am more keenly aware of His Love, the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the peace in the midst of both light and shadow, both effort and refreshing beauty. Out of the silence this awareness must accompany me back into my daily life.
Through the contemplation of John chapter one something that is probably obvious to everyone else spoke itself, if you will into my being. Jesus speaks our human language not just because He is all-knowing but because He came and lived among us, Emanuel. He knows the language of our human tongues, the language of our minds, and the language of our hearts because He came and lived among us, Emanuel. I am sure He knew all of that as He formed us in creation. But because He came and lived among us we can know that He walked our paths and experienced our light and shadows, our efforts and refreshing beauty. It comforts me to know that He speaks my particular language and knows my trek to my final destination because He is truly Emanuel, God with us, God with me.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was with God in the beginning. vs 1....The word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father full of grace and truth. vs 14" John 1:1 and 14
The reflections of a fellow pilgrim.