In-Between Seasons by Angie Fuller
For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. (Isaiah 60:2)
It feels more unpleasant the older I get—that little flip in my stomach when cresting a steep hill or dropping in a fast elevator. It’s just the effects of inertia and gravity, but all I know is how disconcerting that quick, in-between moment is when I don’t feel grounded!
The people who first heard the words of Isaiah 60 certainly didn’t feel grounded. Their leadership and actions had taken them far from goodness and justice and thus far from home in exile. Life was dark. God promised light would come, but when? How?
As it turns out, their in-between season lasted several centuries! Through the generations, many of them passively hoped—envisioning what might happen . . . someday. But others participated in hope by clinging to rituals, each other, and prayer. They kept celebrating sabbath and Passover. They repeated stories of God’s goodness, generosity, and power. They connected with others, tethering them to strength and hope in their community. And they prayed—trusting that God was listening and still at work.
Many of us are in an in-between season of some sort, wondering, “What lies ahead? When will I feel grounded again?”
As we wait, we can participate in hope. We can pray. We can seek comfort in community and offer it, too. We can retell stories—from scripture and our lives—of God’s goodness, generosity and power. And although the Christmas rituals that ground us each year are over for now, we can create Epiphany rituals to draw us closer to Jesus. A warm drink with a breath prayer each day. A new playlist. Some psalms. Regular moments by a candle or fireplace.
In The Message, Isaiah 60 ends with certainty: “I am God. At the right time I’ll make it happen.” Regardless of what is on the other side of our in-between season, Epiphany reminds us that god’s generous gifts come in unexpected ways and on unexpected timelines. A new and glorious morn WILL come, and the Light shines over us and through us as we participate in waiting.