December 16 - Within the grasp of our hands
Contributed by
Anna Newburn, a junior communication major from Goshen, Ind. on Tuesday December 16
Scripture
Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD , the LORD , is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
In that day you will say:
"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."
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Devotion
As we wait expectantly this advent season, we are aware that we have anxieties beyond the coming celebration of Jesus' birth. Today, Isaiah 12:2-6 tells us to trust, and not be afraid. Upon reading the beginning of this verse, I was reminded of a few lines of a poem by Ranier Maria Rilke. They read:
"Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand."
Just these few lines convey the power of the ever-present Spirit. Yes, life is serious. It's created out of moments of serious decisions, serious joys, serious love, serious pain and serious hope. And throughout all of this, there is a hand extended for us to hold. There is a well of infinite salvation. For this, Isaiah says sing! Praise and rejoice because God is doing great things in our lives. We must realize that God's love, comfort and salvation are truly within the grasp of our hands -- whether we are wringing them, reaching with exultation, raising them in defeat or pressing them in prayer, these powerful gifts are ours. The Holy One of Israel is in our midst.
Says Rilke:
We become so accustomed to you,
we no longer look up
when your shadow falls over the book we are reading
and makes it glow. For all things
sing you: at times
we just hear them more clearly.
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