Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Leila Thomson, Hoxa Tapestry, Gallery Orkney; Reading by Nancy Adams
When his period of service in the Temple was over, Zechariah went back home. Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and did not leave the house for five months. “Now at last the Lord has helped me,” she said. “He has taken away my public disgrace!” Luke 1 :23-25
When it dawns on us how merciful and tender God is, particularly when disappointment and disgrace have been experienced as in Elizabeth's case, 'The heart fills with fresh, bright breath/And thoughts stir to give birth to color', we feel 'Blessed by all things' and out of darkness a new light has been shed.
This is a blessing by John O'Donahue. It inspired me to put together with it an image of this tapestry that was done on Orkney. On the bottom of the tapestry it says Out of Darkness come Light, Love and Hope. The blessing is called Matins.
1
Somewhere, out at the edges, the night
Is turning and the waves of darkness
Begin to brighten the shore of dawn
The heavy dark falls back to earth
And the freed air goes wild with light,
The heart fills with fresh, bright breath
And thoughts stir to give birth to color.
2
I arise today
In the name of Silence
Womb of the Word,
In the name of Stillness
Home of Belonging,
In the name of the Solitude
Of the Soul and Earth.
I arise today
Blessed by all things,
Wings of breath,
Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper,
Intimacy of touch,
Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought,
Miracle of health,
Embrace of God.
My I live this day
Compassionate of heart,
Clear in word,
Gracious in awareness,
Courageous in thought,
Generous in love.