In the shroud of winter’s darkest night, before the first
peek of sun’s light filters through the drape of day, hope seems to have been
washed out and uncertainty appears to blanket wishful dreams. Fears and
nightmares assault the mind causing body to tighten with anticipation of what
it cannot fathom. Yet nothing is new under sun or moon when life’s final embers
crackle, fizzle, and scar. The last grasping at what once was, the last
scrabbling for lost life, gives way to submission and abandon as reality
assaults the senses. Time nears its end; mortality awaits all men. A hush falls
upon the whole self, a sense of unreality and disbelief.
The fighting and feinting from recent past years now ends as
understanding and forlornness rise to reign in whole being. The grudging acceptance
of inevitable passing of time, of heartbeat, of breath reveals the new reality.
The dust of this one’s future began its last steps, its last breaths, its last
thoughts.
Around the corner lies the creeping certain
ceaseless canceling of creation – corporeal collapse.
The mental assault of its reality never more real than in
the darkest moment of winter’s night. The hope of last sun’s rays rupturing the
drapes of life soon drifts dizzily down when mind assaults that hope with the certainty
of eternality’s nearness. With sudden gasp, this new and imminent reality rears
its intention and nothingness makes its inevitability understood; this one’s
time soon ends. Grasping and scrabbling ends. Acceptance begins to dawn within.
Still, silently biding its time comes a knowledge beyond all
knowledge, beyond all reason. An understanding hard to acknowledge and accept
by many until this time of nebulous in-between-ness becomes the inevitability.
This oft pushed-aside reality, knowledge, and belief eases itself forward from
the recesses of memory. This memory reminds of power, knowingness, and ever-presence.
As it advances forward from mind’s recessive memory, a glimmer of hope, a
glimpse of future, a gasping of possibility captures the remnants of corporeal
body’s spirit and brightly shines hope, anticipation, and expectation. “Oh,
what was that?” this one so near to winter’s eternal darkness asks? “What was
that news told to me during Spring’s bright and hope-filled dawning?”
The grinding of old, unoiled wheels turns recalling from
memory what someone said. The feeling of possibility springs forward giving
last glimpses of hope before life’s final dawn fades away. “What was that news?”
the spirit begs mind to recall. Picking through worthless words, actions, and
thoughts, “There, move that detritus; I see a glorious shining!” Scrambling
through stacks of senseless moments and memories, the unheard, unheeded, and
unknown shines brighter until that Word is revealed in the bank of life’s
detritus. The one Hope disregarded in the dizzying dance of life still shone
dazzlingly even amidst forgotten goals, games, and gambits. Gazing upon this
unheeded memory, this long-forgotten message, hope springs, heart sings, head
soars with the light of possibility of new dawn.
This Hope, this Message, this Word unheeded still, but
recognized as the One not to be missed parts the winter’s darkness giving
glimpses at possible eternal gazing upon the Light during the non-time of eternity.
Grasping, listening, learning, accepting, hope eternal rises as the sun of
summer in the heart. Belief beats breath-takingly as winter’s dark night fades
into gray as the Light of the world breaks into the midst of time’s sway
bringing brilliance and wondrous joy.
Where once inevitable ending reigned in heart, mind, and
body, now hope and life unending spring forth bringing bounteous joy and
eternal life with the One Who is beyond all constraints, Who loves unrestrainedly,
and gives life eternally because of His faithful love.
Who wants the misery and despair of winter’s shroud? Who
chooses that option when Hope and Light from the eternal Spring is available? Hear
the message. Believe the Truth. Walk in the way. Accept the gift of love given
so that all who believe can have eternal life. No winter’s dark night ever casts
its shroud upon it. No nothingness ever penetrates this glorious eternal
kingdom of God. Hear. Believe. Be saved from the darkness of eternal death.
Come
see and believe in the hope of the Gentiles.
Come
believe and receive the God of hope.
Then in that day, the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to Him, and the land where He lives will be a glorious place. (Isaiah 11:10 [NLT])
Isaiah said, ‘The heir to David’s throne will come, and He will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on Him.’ I pray that the God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13 [NLT])
