Darkness to Light

Night sky at Spectacle Lake taken with my iPhone

We spent a night in October at Spectacle Lake Lodge between Barry's Bay and Algonquin Park. Far from city lights in almost complete darkness, I admired the clear night sky with innumerable stars and the Milky Way. The gibbous moon had not risen yet and the electric lights around the lodge were too dim to illuminate the sky. My husband came looking for me at one point and didn't see me sitting in a Muskoka chair near the water's edge. I had to be careful not to fall into the lake as I walked around the property as sky and land merged indistinguishable in blackness. While thoroughly enjoying the night sky, I would not want to live in darkness for long. 

In 1908 Minnie Louise Haskins wrote a poem titled God Knows. It was known later as The Gate of the Year and was quoted by King George V1 in his 1939 Christmas Message to the Commonwealth. It is said that his 13-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth showed him the poem shortly after the start of World War 2. Here is the first stanza that was quoted by King George VI.

THE GATE OF THE YEAR

'God Knows'

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown".
And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way".
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

During Advent, we observe the transition from darkness to light. Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 foretells the time when

The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned...

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 

Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end...

In John 8:12, Jesus said of himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This year I know too many people who are walking in very dark places, uncertain of what the future will hold. Whether it is physical illness, depression, job and financial stresses, family and social changes, world conflict, or even perpetual outrage at things we cannot control, the darkness can be all-engulfing leading to hopelessness and fear. 

The last three stanzas of Minnie Louise Haskins' poem outline how our imperfect vision is clear to God and how his provision is sufficient in dark places.

So heart be still:

What need our little life

Our human life to know,

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife

Of things both high and low,

God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life's stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God's thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.

Each year I look for a new Advent devotional book. This year I am enjoying the writing of John Sentame. retired Archbishop of York in his book Wake Up to Advent. He came to England as an immigrant from Uganda at the time of President Idi Amin.  His personal experiences with darkness made him a strong advocate for social justice. His weekly Advent themes are refreshingly different;- Wake Up! Clean Up! Feed Up! Grow Up! instead of the traditional themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. 

Light does wake us up. It guides us in our own challenges as well as waking us up to the needs of others around us.