Last Friday I was walking outside at night with one of my best friends kids. He is a preschool aged child and was chattering away like kids his age do. All at once he stooped, looked at the sky and exclaimed, "Look! It is raining stars!!" We stood still, looking at the stars, shining brightly through the night sky.

I stood there and prayed:
God, this world is so dark; war, poverty, lack of health care, homelessness! I'm often overwhelmed by the darkness. Help me to look into the darkness as this child looked into the night sky. He looked into the dark night and saw the stars, not simply shining, but raining down on us!  May I look at the darkness of this world and see your light, not as a distant light far away but as light raining down on us. Bring your light O God, into the darkness of this world--let your light rain down on us as your stars rained through the night sky! Amen!

I hope your day today is filled with light and joy, but if you face today with a heavy heart or if you need a prayer during a dark moment, remember this one and ask God for light to rain into your darkness, now and always!