Peace

December 31,2018 Jessica sits very still in a spot that will soon be Night, crossed by shadows, immersed in a silence far far greater than her own. She accepts this silence because all that must be said was already spoken by all of us this morning and early afternoon. Further speech would only cloud those words of sufficient light, now dimming, flickering, soon to vanish, just as they should. I can just barely see you approach this still spot, and sit beside Jessica. There is a pause in Night's passage. Jessica's right hand clasps your left hand, and both of you tighten the grip. It becomes the gesture of prayer: you are locked in a single appeal for grace... The darkness widens, as more light withdraws into the sleep all of us needs. How can we say, "Darkness has fallen, " without also saying, "Light has risen over us? "