Years ago I was getting ready to start my shift at the trauma center. It was barely light outside, and it was cold and windy. Usually on those brisk winter mornings, I kept my head down, navigated the piles of ice and snow between the parking lot and the hospital, and tried to get inside as quickly as possible. For some reason, I glanced up and stopped, transfixed, when I saw the clouds, especially one heart-shaped cloud, backlit by the sun not yet over the horizon.

It was sort of a Hello, God! moment. What was an ordinary moment became extraordinary.

Over time, I’ve had many moments like that. A milkweed pod, bursting open right in front of me when I walked around a marsh. A tiny rabbit, hopping with uncertainty across the lawn. The first hummingbird of the season at the feeder. Freezing rain that made frozen droplets on a twig.

I’d like to say I’m attuned to look for these God moments. But most of the time, my routines, my habits, get upended with a sort of Holy nudge. Even if they are good habits!

As we had done for many years, I cracked a bedroom window last night to listen for the first rounds of birdsong on Easter morning. In the darkness, I woke after midnight to the sound of a great horned owl hooting in the maple tree in our backyard. It was LOUD. I heard a response in the distance… and then silence. I assume that the owl heard his or her mate and flew away. I fell back asleep, smiling.

While was still dark… yet there was a reminder of life continuing, of Creation getting ready for Easter morning.

While was still dark… The sun was not even close to rising. But the birds!!! The birds started YELLING!!!! I noted, groggily, that they started singing loud enough to wake me at 4:43 a.m. Carolina wrens, cardinals, sparrows, chickadees… the serenade lulled me back to sleep until my alarm got me out of bed for Easter services.

And all day I’ve been thinking about the phrase “While it was still dark…” as it was in the Gospel reading this morning.

¹ Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.” ³ Peter and the other disciple left to go to the tomb. ⁴ They were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb. ⁵ Bending down to take a look, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he didn’t go in. ⁶ Following him, Simon Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ He also saw the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. It wasn’t with the other clothes but was folded up in its own place. ⁸ Then the other disciple, the one who arrived at the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ They didn’t yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. (John 20:1-10 NRSV)

I have had to walk through some very dark moments over the last few years. And yet. The Light shines through them, renewing my hope and my faith. While it was still dark I have had difficult and hard experiences. And yet. The Light of others’ strength has held me up and walked me through them.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. Even while it is still dark…

Blessed be.