Wednesday Festival: Dusk & Dawn

As some of us are welcoming the dusk of Wednesday, others of us in the RevGalBlogPals community are already greeting the dawn of Thursday.

Whatever the time and season in our own lives and geography, it is grounding (to me at least) to be reminded by friends & colleagues that many times and many seasons unfold simultaneously — within our individual lives and within our collective life of community in Christ. Knowing that we all experience seasons of struggle; knowing that we might find laughter together after sharing tears; knowing that your delight & my strain not only coexist but also compel us toward greater care for one another; these keep me grounded in faith and hopeful in life.

Within seasons of sorrow, there are joys. Within moments of dawning awareness, there are moments of fading assumptions. Alongside days of love are days of worry.

• Within an experience of solitude can be loneliness or bliss (“Eating Alone” at Michelle Torigian).
• Within a slow, uneventful day can be delightful discovery (“when boredom is good for children” at Life, Gratitude, Faith, & Passion).
• Within a season of being there is also a season of striving to be (“Striving to Embrace Our Multi-Ethnic Community” at April Yamasaki).
• Within a time of praise there might seem to be a lack of time for purpose…or perhaps they are simultaneous (“Make My Life an Alleluia” at Unfinished Symphony).
• Within certainty must be found more questions (“Curiosity and Whole-heartedness” at Sandpiper’s Thoughts).

No matter if you are greeting the dusk or the dawn, experiencing a moment of celebration or pain, this community honors our diverse journeys within the shared community of Christ, and together we remind one another that a new day is always coming.

Do you find yourself in a particular season (or a particular funk/mood) these days? Looking for someone who can hold onto faith while you struggle through doubt, or hold onto love while you wrestle with cynicism? Share your reflections and/or blogposts in the comments!

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Rachel G. Hackenberg is a United Church of Christ (US) minister, soccer mom, blogger, and author. Her latest book is Sacred Pause: A Creative Retreat for the Word-weary Christian.
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