Meditation: The sun rises

One of the many joys of winter:
rising to be with the sun rising.
Rising in darkness to see the sky
darken as the first glow of day
colours the line between sky and sea
between land and cloud
between heaven and earth.

   Rising in darkness
   knowing the light is coming
   in glory 
   to bring new life to my world,
   in glory
   to touch the dark corners,
   in glory
   to fire my heart with joy.

Standing in the cold darkness feeling 
the chill, but knowing that warmth
is rising to fill the cold,
pouring in to overflow the emptiness,
bringing new life to all green things
new life to everything of cold blood
new life to those standing alone in the dark.

   Rising in darkness
   knowing the light is coming
   in glory 
   to bring new life to my world,
   in glory
   to touch the dark corners,
   in glory
   to fire my heart with joy.

We stand cold and without light;
lonely, separated, waiting in darkness, 
in the cold darkness of illness or depression,
in dark and cold uncertainty waiting
for purpose, for meaning - and then
it starts, a glow, a glimmer, a beacon of fire

   rising in darkness -
   the light is here 
   in glory 
   to bring new life to my world,
   in glory
   to touch my dark corners,
   in glory
   to fire my heart with joy.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you. 

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Genesis 1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.”And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

Focus on this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe hear Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word LIGHT or the word RISING. 

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention). 

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. 

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.