Night Watchmen

There is more in the dark than we might expect.

Night watchmen. That’s the role the shepherd’s played on the night of Jesus’ birth. “Watching over their flocks by night” (Luke 2:8 NIV). They were guarding and protecting, as night watchmen do. Staying awake to what lurked in the dark.

What a tender gift to have someone watch over you as darkness descends.

Nearing the end of his life, Jesus invited Peter, James, and John to keep watch with him as night closed in around him. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he told them. “Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). But try as they may, they fell asleep and failed him.

We are human, all. It is difficult to stay awake to the kind of pain that puts the lights right out. We know this.

But there is more in the dark than we might expect. “My soul waits for the Lord to break into the world more than night watchmen expect the break of day, even more than night watchmen expect the break of day,” the Psalmist proclaimed (Psalm 130:6 Voice).

This verse fascinates me. Most night watchmen in this day and age are posted to prevent break-ins. But in this scenario we have watchmen longing for one. Looking for God’s breaking into this world. And didn’t those shepherd’s back at Jesus’ birth, staring into the inky darkness, see just that?

The dark of night is prime time for most break-ins, apparently God’s included! “You know very well,” Jesus told his disciples, “that the day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 CEB).

This makes me wonder if one of the things lurking in the dark is the love of God about to break through. What if, as we stay awake to the pain, we are also privileged to see God’s presence?

As a spiritual director, one of my roles and greatest gifts is to serve as a night watchman in this way. To stay awake to and with my directee’s in their dark nights. Present to the pain and the presence of God, both.

For the night watchmen are not only posted to prevent break-ins, but also to proclaim them. God has come!

Jesus Christ,
light in the darkness,
thief in the night,
break in upon us.
Steal away our sorrow, sin, and shame,
and leave us with your peace once more.

Night Watchmen: Our Little Life Words of the Week

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REFLECTION & RESPONSE

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Ponder: 

Who has watched over you in the dark night of your soul?

Who has stayed awake to both your pain and the presence of God – not falling asleep to either of these?

Who in your life might need a night watchman right now and how can you wait (in hope) with them?

Practice:

Purchase a pair of inexpensive night vision glasses. Put them on in prayer and ask God to help you see in the dark.

Set another chair or cushion wherever you sit to pray. Experience God’s with-ness there, keeping watch with you.

Play:

The song we’re playing is: Sing Over Me by Porter’s Gate.

Pray:

Good Shepherd, watch over us in the dark, as we await the dawn.