I stare out at the dark street.
It’s empty.
The prayer room feels safe.
As I look through the window I see one light.
Its street light, the only one I can see.
It covers the street with a flood of yellow light.
The warmth and security of the prayer room is helping my
body mind and soul to experience a deep peace.
But.
Just five yards away there is a world wrapped in the
velveteen eclipse of night.
Darkness.
But.
There is one light.
It penetrates the darkness with its yellow glow.
Enabling eyes to see in the midst of the dark.
It’s been nice to pray with some people in the sanctuary.
Seriously nice.
Sometimes prayer is hard.
But tonight?
We have been touched by the sheer majesty of a Holy God.
Now though.
I’m just staring out onto the street and my eye has caught
the one light in a dark street.
My being begins to feel the pain of the dark.
My mind wanders towards the work we have ahead at Sanctuary
West London.
I think of those already drawn to the Sanctuary before we
have even opened.
People trying desperately to find light in some really dark
situations.
I think of a lady called Grace. Who Dawn and I visited last
Christmas in her pay and sleep room. She had no food and no presents for her
two little children, they all slept in one room no bigger than a few square
feet. I remember all too well the look in her eyes as we dropped of food and
toys for her and her kids. Eyes full of shame for the work she was doing, eyes
full of sadness for the situation she was in. eyes crying out for the love of a
saviour. I think of M, who I will accompany to court next week, who feels so
alone right now. I think of Paul who is so lonely he has considered ending it
all lately. I think of Kieron who sleeps in a local park in Ealing who was so
thrilled because we give him some clothes. I think of Michael who has severe
anger issues and doesn’t know where to turn.
The prayer room feels so safe.
The darkness doesn’t.
As safe as I feel, and as much as I know that the prayer
centre here in Ealing is a new light in a dark place, I know we can’t just
wallow in His presence in the relative security of the prayer room. I see there
will be many rescue missions ahead. I see there have to be many trips into
the darkness. I see there will be many people drawn to the light of Jesus that
will shine like the strongest sun.
And.
We have to be ready. We have prepared the building which is
amazingly fitted now to our needs as a centre of prayer and justice.
But.
That’s not the thing really.
The thing is the work.
The thing is the mission.
It’s the vital hard work of prayer. Prayer as a rhythm,
prayer as intercession, prayer as spiritual warfare, prayer as an education,
prayer as a mission.
With the ultimate goal of carrying people into the kingdom
and into a developing relationship with Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
We are set.
Our mission is clear.
We pray that the people who are in darkness will be caught
staring at the light.
The light of encounter.
The light of compassion.
The light of grace and mercy.
The light of hope found in Jesus.
Yeah.
We are set.
