Worship

By MATTHEW RUFFNER

Darkness breeds hope, grace and love

Times of struggle brings out the best in ourselves

Why do we still participate in daylight savings time? Yes, I know, farmers in the fields and work before the school bell could ring. But honestly, that response has never quite felt sufficient.

When we “fall back” an hour, I grumble a thousand times in protest! I grumble because it takes me weeks to adjust to the “time change.” It’s not time I’m struggling to adjust to; it’s the amount of light or lack thereof in the sky. I love long days and blue skies and grow weary of dark mornings and even darker afternoons. I assume I’m not alone, but I could be.

Our relationship with the darkness is always a struggle, metaphorically speaking. When life is clear skies and long days, life is good. When life is dark and gloomy, life is bad. An oversimplification for sure, but not far from some of the theology that has been handed down throughout the generations.

Though, I believe the Spiritual path reveals that Spirit is in all times, all places and through all seasons. Therefore, many of the

holiest moments of our lives are gifts to be found in the dark. Yes, in the darkness, there is struggle. In the darkness, there is doubt. In the dark, there is loss, and yes, even sometimes pain. But we also discover in the deepest darkness of fear that is the very place hope is born. In the deepest darkness of brokenness, we discover that is the very place grace is found, for we come to discover that the deepest Our relationship darkness is not the place with the darkness where hope, grace or love is always a goes to die. No, the deepstruggle. est darkness is the very place grace, hope and love go to be reborn. So then, I wonder how the darkness may be the gift we didn’t know we needed. With great hope, Matthew REV. MATTHEW RUFFNER is the Senior Pastor at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. He is a hus band to Sarah Ruffner and a father of two. You can follow Matthew on Instagram at @thisismatthewruff ner and visit PHPC.org to watch the church’s live stream and listen to sermons.

WORSHIP

BAPTIST

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org Bible Study 9:15 / Worship Services 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

ROYAL LANE BAPTIST CHURCH / 6707 Royal Lane / 214.361.2809 Christian Education 9:45 a.m. / Worship Service 10:55 a.m. Pastor - Rev. Dr. Michael L. Gregg / www.royallane.org

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100 Pastor George A. Mason / Worship at 9 & 11 a.m. Sunday School at 10 a.m. / wilshirebc.org

PRESBYTERIAN

PARK CITIES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH/ 4124 Oak Lawn Ave Sunday Worship 9:00 & 11:00 A.M. To all this church opens wide her doors - pcpc.org

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