Maybe I am not very human – what I wanted to do was to paint sunlight on the side of a house. Edward Hopper
Meditation: I think this artist is very human in his wish to paint sunlight on the side of a house. I can resonate with him. Growing up in Wittgenstein, Westphalia, Germany the wintertime lasted way into May, and in October it would become really cold again. And not only cold, but also rainy, foggy and uncomfortably grey for days and weeks without end in sight. I often wished growing up that I could have one hour of sunlight and warmth every day. Painting sunlight on houses would have been a beautiful idea, as sometimes during those long winters we all forgot what sunshine even looked or felt like. Currently the political climate in the US and in many other countries feels like a long, not ending winter. Injustice causes frostbites, and people have to come together to stay warm. We witnessed such warmth of coming together in the demonstrations last weekend. We long for justice, just as we long for the spring to finally arrive. Our bodies and our hearts are weary of the cold temperatures. We need the literal sun to shine upon us, and we need the sun of righteousness to shine once again in this country and around the world.
Prayer: God, many people are sick and tired of the cold of winter and the cold of unjust politics. Many people are depressed and their bodies are longing for the warmth of the sun, their hearts are longing for justice to shine once again. God, you are the sun of righteousness that brings healing, physically and mentally. Shine on us. Hear our prayer. We are asking for the rising of the sun and for righteousness to be done. As You let Your light shine on us once again, we will leap with joy like calves running from the winter stall. May Your light of Justice and Your warmth of Grace shine on humanity once again. Amen
But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2 (NRSV)
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