The first time I saw the York Minster (a cathedral in York, England), it was dark outside. A small group of us who went on the Pilgrimage this past October went to see it the night before our official tour. It sort of sneaks up on you, out of the midst of narrow, winding, cobble stone streets, suddenly you emerge and before you looms the cathedral. It was wrapped in a stunning, silent beauty. Only pieces of its enormous façade were lit up by the yellow street lights. It can take your breath away. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, and I could not back up far enough to take it all in with my camera. I finally sat right down on the sidewalk to stare up at it. These photos were the result. Beautiful and peaceful: those were my overwhelming observations. You could tell, even without the sunlight streaming through them, that the stained glass windows were intricate. Potential and present beauty seemed perfectly balanced, and it held me there is spirit. It was a moment to stop, to give thanks, to marvel, and to think about the enormity of God’s love.
Every once in a while, we have experiences where we just have to pause, and we want to acknowledge the beauty around us, acknowledge our gratitude to God. Visiting the York Minister at night was such an experience for me. As the nights lengthen at this time of year, it can be easy to feel tired, or even to feel like we have less time than we did before. Leaving the office and/or eating dinner when it is already dark outside is certainly an adjustment for many of us! But I pray that you’ll take some time to look around at the beauty of this time and season, and maybe notice something that the night holds differently from the day time. May something new catch your eye. May it move you to prayer, to pausing, and to praising.(Reverend Jessica Strysko, Pastor of Missions and Family Ministry)____________________________
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