Events in the news this week are shocking and horrific, and the blogosphere is filled with comment, some articulate, conciliatory and hope-filled, some clumsy, aggressive and hateful, and of course everything in between.  I have chosen not to post any responses, not because I don't have any views and not because I don't care, but simply because words fail.

Vigils, candle-lighting, petition-signing, social media ranting, reasoned reflections - each of these can be hugely meaningful and helpful.  But they pass, the intensity fades, another horror emerges to capture attention and the cycle repeats.

So, this blog post not withstanding, I am choosing to be silent, to dwell in the darkness of unknowing, un-understanding, with the God who waits and walks in the darkness and whose presence may be glimpsed in absence.  And as I do, I allow these sets of words to emerge from deep within to comfort and to challenge me...

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood (overcome) it"

"It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness"

"Light is stronger than darkness, Good is stronger than evil, Love is stronger than hate, Life is stronger than death"

The horror, the media outpourings, the petitions, the candles - all these will pass.  Only faith, hope and love remain, and the greatest of these is love.