All Articles
One Very Dark Night
It was very late on a black night. A darkness that was absolute and unyielding with no starlight to silhouette the arriving ships. Ominous even. In the background, there was the minor chord of impending ruination. Irreparable damage. The gloom and cold oppressive. A coldness that is not so different than death. The wind howled drearily. A precursor of things to come. An everlasting sorrow. One more marker of the nation’s descent towards violence. Secession had begun. And very soon brother against brother. Civil war was imminent. It was Lincoln himself who said,
“We have sacred ties of affection which, though strained by passions, let us hope can never be broken.”
Hubris and heartbreak at the dawn of the Civil War. Sacred ties of affection strained to the brink of collapse. For some, uncured by the ruin which had been wrought.
There is truly a tie that binds us all. And yet we inconceivably sever them inexplicably at the altar of selfishness. Deeming ourselves and our desires more honorable that those of our brethren. Becoming accustomed to mastery and proficient in the art of taking offence. Craving the unalloyed respect of all those around us. Haughty and hasty, we are ardent in our desires. Impatient of obstacles and others. Gradually, over time, our rationale begins to slip all tethers to reality. Not realizing that the path we trod will come to open rupture. To our imminent regret.
One Pauline passage in particular comes to mind:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2.3-4
The “one another” passages permeate the entirety of the New Testament. And that’s reason enough to pause and contemplate. Many stress an attitude of humility and deference among brethren. Principles that lay the foundation and set forth the motivational reasons that should govern our lives. Through the common relationship that all Christians share together in Christ.
Love one another (1 John 4.7; 1 Peter 4.8).
Bearing one another (Colossians 3.13).
Forgiving one another (Ephesians 4.32).
My earnest prayer is that we come honorably out of our difficulties. Maintaining a state of watchful vigilance to become the model of stoicism and forbearance.
“In your darkest hour, give thanks, for in due time, the morning will come. And it will come with a ray of sunshine.”
Michael Bassey Johnson
May our trust be sutured in place solely by the assurances of our intermediary, Jesus Christ. Who humbled Himself by being obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2.8).
One very dark night.
Awakening to one bright sunny day.
