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Among the Lights
Gardens Aglow; Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Boothbay, Maine
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A rainbow appeared to my wanting eyes deceived to see.
Time washed away the lustrous glow, and I,
I am left alone to hold hollow, colorless remains, for
in death lies the once bright, lively dream.
But some dim light, not a mirage but true, leads me to You
and hope no misleading untruth can bury in cold, dark ground -
hope reborn from an abysmal descent to Life.
*Brian K. Wilcox. "Hope Reborn." July 25, 2008.
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Christmas 2016 -
This Christmas morning, leaving morning worship, reflecting on the meaning of Christmas, words from the Nicene Creed resonated: "Light from Light." The true Christian message is of Light, arising from Light and witness to Light, even amid darkness.
And Light speaks of Presence and, with It, hope. Profound words from the prologue to St. John's Gospel, of the Word before time, "That enlightens everyone." So, this Light in everyone, that of Grace in everyone, seen or unseen by self or by others.
When we realize within the Light within, a Light already present, we are inspired to arise from our faith in darkness, consciously to embody the Light and, so, to emanate silently hope through our surrender to Grace. This we could speak of as Christ being born again, and now.
Any moment in which Hope arises in the midst of hopelessness, Christ is born, for Love is timelessly born from Love, and the Word again becomes flesh. That which became, becomes always. Light gives birth to Light, and we take more upon ourselves the Nature of this Light.
Everyone else kneels in the pews, as the officiate begins the Eucharist Celebration. I stand, left hand holding the Worship service, right hand upward, eyes closed, and heart open, no longer held in the grip of fear and despair - and the Light... I feel the presence of the Light everywhere here, alive, shining as It has always been Light from Light.
A dawning again, hope reborn, Light untouched by darkness. Light from Light, this I believe and pray to live. This summons to keep the heart open. This I yield to, that this flesh, subject to aging, sickness, and death, might be, by Grace, porous to the Light that enlightens everyone.
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*©Brian K. Wilcox, 2022.
*Use of photography is allowed accompanied by credit given to Brian K. Wilcox and notation of title and place of the photograph.
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major online booksellers or the publisher AuthorHouse.
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