Rev. Mary Kitchen

Who Am I in This Darkness? The world around us is changing rapidly.

Every day seems to bring new anxieties, and it is hard to find our footing. Our familiar world seems very different than it did just a few weeks ago.

We may find ourselves asking “Who am I now?” We thought we knew the answer.

But now we may be out of work. Our places of business may be closed. We are unable to gather in our churches and communities.

The familiar patterns of our lives have been altered.

Who are we in this strange and dark world?

Mary Magdalene may have asked this question after the Crucifixion of Jesus. Her Savior had been taken away, and the meaning of her life was gone. All seemed bleak and empty.

But when Jesus appeared and spoke her name, everything changed in a moment. Jesus was alive. Her fear was gone. Nothing could ever again separate her from her Savior.

Who are we?

We are children of God, loved more than we know.

We are frightened and uncertain, and we seek to hold on to the One who first reached out to us.

We have many ways to express our faith, but that is our central truth — we belong to God and we cling to God.

In these dark times God is calling each of our names.

Who are we?

We are one community in God, and we join hands with one another.

We are a family, many different faces and voices, but here to help each other through these uncertain days.

We are not alone.

In so many ways we are caring for one another.

In this time of darkness, reach out to God and reach out to one another.

Together we will find our way, and light and healing will surely come.

The Rev. Mary Kitchen is the pastor of both North Butler Presbyterian Church in Chicora and the East Butler Presbyterian Church in East Butler.