Light for the Next Step

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."

And he replied: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."

—Minnie Louise Haskins

There is a walkway between St. Mary's Hall and Anna House, our retreat buildings. It's a smooth, paved sidewalk, but we often get requests to light those 250 feet for the walk back to Anna House after dinner or for the back-and-forth for evening programs. We value accessibility and want to be responsive to guest suggestions. So, last month, Tim and Kevin installed these simple yet gorgeous lights.

They send a soft glow along the path, illuminating the way through the fog, offering just enough light to take safe steps without distracting from the beauty of the night sky in our sacred landscape.

The same week these lights were installed, a woman I'd corresponded with via email visited me in my office. As we got to know each other a little better, she told me about a family member in treatment for stage four cancer. She said, "All I can do is pray for enough light to see the next step."

Isn't that what we all long for these days? Whether it is the installation of an electric light for our physical steps or the assurance of enough revelation for the next step of our spiritual journey, we can be satisfied with enough light for one more step.

But our longings aren’t always fulfilled. Sometimes the fog settles in thick and opaque. Sometimes, no matter how much we pray and seek, the path is inscrutable. Minnie Louise Haskins reminds us that even then, we don’t need to despair. We can still go out into the darkness, putting our hand into the Hand of God. How wonderful it is to trust that an unknown way with God is safer than a well-lit and known way. 

This is the heart of contemplative practice: not demanding answers, but cultivating trust. Not seeking certainty, but learning to walk in mystery.

As we walk between weeks, months, and seasons, we don’t rush the transition. We trust the turning. We remember that a life of faith rarely shows us the whole path, but often asks us to simply take the next faithful step.

At St. Mary’s Sewanee, you’ll find plenty of well-lit spaces for familiar spiritual practices and holy conversations along your way. And if you feel called and ready to explore those unknown dark places, we can provide trusted guides and opportunities for that journey, too.

Whether you are walking familiar ground or entering an unknown season, know that this community is walking with you. May the reflections, gatherings, and quiet moments offered through St. Mary’s Sewanee be gentle reminders that you are guided and held, and never have to walk alone, especially in the dark.

Here's to light for the next step.

PRACTICE: Walking in the Dark

This month, try a night walk. Do it somewhere safe, like your neighborhood, a park, or St. Mary's Sewanee. 

Notice what it feels like to have just enough light for the next step.

Notice what you can see that daylight obscures: stars, moon, shadows, silhouettes.

Notice what senses sharpen when sight is limited.

Ask: What am I being invited to trust that I cannot yet see?

Walk slowly. Breathe deeply. Put your hand in the Hand of God.