We’d be in good company as the Israelites leave Egypt. We’ll read tomorrow, “The Eternal One went before [the Israelites] in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people” (Exodus 13: 21-22).
I picture a Divine flashlight guiding the Israelites as they made their way through the wilderness, out of Egypt. It seemed to be powered at the right setting, depending on the moment, to guide the Israelites along a circuitous route.
I don’t want to barrel through the pandemic tunnel, knocking one another over as if there needs to be a race to re-open or to cut in line or to outdo somebody else to see the light. As if we really need to exert energy comparing and competing and judging.
What if we use these moments to see all of the lights along the tunnel? Who are your lights? How have you let them know?
As we light candles tonight and journey with the Israelites to the Sea tomorrow, my prayer is that we see all the lights along the way. The pillar of fire by night. The pillar of cloud by day. May we acknowledge them and pray they do not depart from us.
