WHEN THE DARK NIGHT IS AS BRIGHT AS DAY


        I recently completed a paper on the theme of the dark night of the soul as found in John of the Cross and the interior castle as described by Teresa of Avila.  It was a timely topic for this season of my soul, as I both invited and allowed myself to step out of the false surety of Enlightenment thinking and into the place where mystics meet God.

        The paper  opened with these assumptions from which to dialog with John and Teresa:  "the fullest understanding I bring to this theme is that the spiritual journey far from being a common path, is unique to each person as we undertake to follow the pull of the Spirit.  Implicit are these assumptions: Each person is uniquely created; There is a will great than our own and a purpose beyond what we see; though we can journey with others, no one else's journey is ours.  Ultimately, our spiritual journey is custom designed and to each of us God delights to reveal our way."

      Surely saying things like this sends religious conformists into apoplexy and spiritually free thinkers into a dance of joy. But as I often find myself--firmly in the middle of any polarity--the significance of being uniquely created by God, and the admonition to 'hear His voice and follow' is not as simple as the traditionalists make it seem, nor as willy-nilly as non-conformists would like to believe.  There is more to our relationship to God than an all or nothing mimicking of the past or full out throwing caution to the wind.

       This morning I watched/ listened to the homily at Holy Cross Monastery in Rostrevor, Northern Ireland. [it's the monastery I visited in 2010] The officiant talked about the seemingly contradictory vows of "stability" and "conversion" which are given by Benedict in his Rule.  One calls us to be firmly planted, he said. And the other urges us to make all necessary changes being led by the Spirit. He was saying that far from contradictory these vows keep us grounded and yet not stagnant.

        There are times in all of our lives in which we feel the tug--when long standing or hard won beliefs or practices are being dismantled within us.  Some of us cling so fervently to what is old that the conversion the Spirit is seeking to make new in us is put off. Yet some of us plunge into the newness like female penguins into the North Sea.  Still others deny that conversion/ transformation/renewal of Spirit is happening or even necessary: "if it was good enough for ____________ its good enough for me!"   Being re-formed comes easier to some than to others.

        I myself continue to be in a spiritual season of rootedness, groundedness and stability holding hands with change, transformation and conversion of heart.  It is a season of John of the Cross's dark night and the winding steps of Teresa's interior castle.  It's a deep season for me where questions of ultimate significance are my constant companions and yet there is a sweet lightness knowing the Spirit is walking with me to wherever Christ is calling me.  The darkness is as bright as day.   The darkness is as bright as day.

        I share this with you friend, as an invitation.  What kind of time is this for you?  Are there roots that have stopped providing spiritual nourishment and need to be pulled?  Is the Spirit calling you ahead in ways that you've pushed aside or down or ignored?  Who are your spiritual companions--who can listen to your spiritual longings, hopes, fears, dreams? To whom do you turn to talk about your spirit? 

        Attention to our spirit and the Spirit is not work for the already overly busy, overly important, for people allergic to change, or for the complacent.  It tends to undo us before putting us back together. It will bring us into the very, very dark before providing a new governing light. Like getting older, its not for sissy's!  It is however necessary spiritual work for those who have heard a inner voice that is gentle, inviting you to finish well this race.  Attentiveness to such an invitation is the best investment for a life marked by joy and peace.

Holding you up to the Light of God's Love and Grace.
Kathleen Bronagh Weller,  the celtic monk    

          

      

     

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