Lights Out

I woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm, at the customary time of 5:00am. In my usual morning slumber, I instinctively turned the light on, grabbed  my bathrobe, and slipped into my flip-flops, seemingly in all one motion. I opened the door to my room, and before I even wiped my eyes, I discovered that the hallway was unusually dark, with the only source of light being that radiating from my room. I noted it as odd, but continued my zombie like walk to the bathroom with arms extended in front of me, feeling for the wall, walking into darkness. After grappling for the bathroom door handle and swinging it open, I hit the lights to realize they were unresponsive.
No power.
I turned the sink faucet.
No water.
Monday morning.
No good.

Judging by the fact that I had power in my room, I deduced that we had at least one of our three electrical phases out. Without much other choice, I put my habit on, armed myself with a flashlight, and headed down to the church for the normal routine. The lights in the Basilica were functioning for a time, but then the electrical phase that was working went out.
Darkness.

It is ironic to have celebrated yesterday the Feast of Epiphany, a Feast of Light, only to find yourself peering into the darkness of the Basilica, with the vigils lights having burned themselves out about 12 hours earlier. The church creaked here and there as it cooled due to the lack of heat circulating and the cold from outside seeping in.
But, the time in prayer, even in the midst of cold and darkness, were graced moments. The power went back on around 6:45am.
Light restored.

“Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
-Daniel 3:72

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