dawn

the closing words of Zechariah's beautiful poem in the gospel of Luke - through the "kind and compassionate mercy of our God," the old priest says, "a new day is dawning: the sunrise from the heavens will break through in our darkness, and those who huddle in night, those who sit in the shadow of death, will be able to rise and walk in the light, guided in the pathway of peace."

into darkness, light comes.

in despair, hope surprises.

in grief, comfort falls on us.

in the midst of our loss and fear, a child is born, and we are blessed in ways we can't fully realize.