Experiences of darkness are good and necessary teachers.
It is hard to believe this when we are in the midst of a period of darkness. But after it is over we sometimes can reflect on it and see that it was telling us something.
BUT WHAT AND WHY?
These dark times are not to be avoided, denied, run from, or explained away.
Even if we don’t experience clinical or diagnosed depression, most of us will go through a period of darkness, doubt, and malaise at some point in our lives.
I hope during these times we can reach out to someone—a therapist, spiritual director, friend—to support us. And when we feel strong may we be the shoulder someone else can lean on.
But sometimes it is not that clear or that easy.
It is hard to believe this when we are in the midst of a period of darkness. But after it is over we sometimes can reflect on it and see that it was telling us something.
BUT WHAT AND WHY?
These dark times are not to be avoided, denied, run from, or explained away.
Even if we don’t experience clinical or diagnosed depression, most of us will go through a period of darkness, doubt, and malaise at some point in our lives.
I hope during these times we can reach out to someone—a therapist, spiritual director, friend—to support us. And when we feel strong may we be the shoulder someone else can lean on.
But sometimes it is not that clear or that easy.
There’s a darkness that we are led into by our own sin (the illusion of separation), and selfishness (living out of the false or separate self), and stupidity. We have to work our way out of this kind of darkness by brutal honesty, confession, surrender, forgiveness, apology, and restitution.
It may feel simultaneously like dying
and
being liberated.
It may feel simultaneously like dying
and
being liberated.
But there’s another darkness that we’re led into by God, grace, and the nature of life itself. In many ways, the loss of meaning, motivation, purpose, and direction might feel even greater here.
Some call it “the dark night of the soul.”
Yet even while we feel alone and that God has abandoned us, we can also sense that we have been led here intentionally. We know we are in “liminal space,” betwixt and between, on the threshold—and we have to stay here until we have learned something essential.
It is still no fun and filled with doubt and “demons” of every sort. But it is the darkness of being held closely by God without our awareness. This is where transformation happens.
Some call it “the dark night of the soul.”
Yet even while we feel alone and that God has abandoned us, we can also sense that we have been led here intentionally. We know we are in “liminal space,” betwixt and between, on the threshold—and we have to stay here until we have learned something essential.
It is still no fun and filled with doubt and “demons” of every sort. But it is the darkness of being held closely by God without our awareness. This is where transformation happens.
Of course, the darkness that we get ourselves into by our own “sinful” choices can also become the darkness of God. Regardless of the cause, the dark night is an opportunity to look for and find God—in new forms and ways.
GOD IS EVERYWHERE--EVEN OR ESPECIALLY IN THE DARKNESS.
Neither God nor goodness exist only in the light but permeate all places, seen and unseen. It seems we have to “unknow” a bit every time we want to know in a new way. It is like putting your car in reverse in the mud and snow so that you can gain a new track and better traction.
GOD IS EVERYWHERE--EVEN OR ESPECIALLY IN THE DARKNESS.
Neither God nor goodness exist only in the light but permeate all places, seen and unseen. It seems we have to “unknow” a bit every time we want to know in a new way. It is like putting your car in reverse in the mud and snow so that you can gain a new track and better traction.
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