See You in the Morning
Jesus said to them, “In this world you will have trouble. But do not be afraid. I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (adapted)
If you’ve ever put a child to bed, you’ll recognize this drill: Read story, say prayers, position bunny, plant kiss, turn off lights, tiptoe out. Kid whimpers, “Monsters.” Lights back on. Look under the bed. Confident voice: “Nope, no monsters. Sweet dreams. See you in the morning.”
It’s a charming game, but every now and then it scares you more than it scares them. You realize they have it right.
There are monsters under the bed, children just don’t know their names. But you do: drugs, cancer, racism, bullying, terrorism, molestation, family breakup, accidents. They might be idle now, but they won’t always stay put.
And when that dawns on you, your calm authority on the matter of monsters seems more irrational than their fears. You’re promising safety you can’t deliver.
And yet we still say it, night after night: “See you in the morning.” Even knowing what we know, we turn off the light. Knowing what we know, we leave them there in the dark.
This is faith: to offer tomorrow to a child when you can’t be certain morning will come. To calm fears with firm assurances when your confidence is no match for what’s under the bed. To turn off the light and go, knowing what you know.
This is faith: to trust that in the menace of life, when you yourself are terrified, Christ is in the room—“I have overcome the world. See you in the morning.”
Prayer
When the lights are out, reassure my own anxious heart, and give me faith to promise the world the safety I can’t deliver, but you can.

Mary Luti is a long time seminary educator and pastor, author of Teresa of Avila’s Way and numerous articles, and founding member of The Daughters of Abraham, a national network of interfaith women’s book groups.