“This is the most important season in the church’s year because this is the season in which we come to see who Jesus is, where he is to be found, and where we begin to understand what he is about.”
Peter J. Gomes
I recently read a book titled, Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor. It intrigued me because the premise proposed that darkness is as precious, if not as necessary, as light when it comes to faith. I quite agree with her when she says, “The way most people talk about darkness, you would think that it came from a whole different deity, but no. To be human is to live by the sunlight and moonlight, with anxiety and delight, admitting limits and transcending them, falling down and rising up.”
Epiphany is the season in the church calendar after the twelve days of Christmas lasting until Lent; themed around light being launched into the world as a revelation. Epiphany starts with three Wisemen pilgriming toward Christ preparing for the coronation of a new King. Throughout Epiphany we focus on the stories that expand our understanding of who historical Jesus was among us and how prophecies of old would be fulfilled through him. From the announcement of Jesus’ birth through Mary to Epiphany we follow a story of light breaking into darkness.
A Balancing Act
It may be hard for you to hear that Christ is found in darkness. As Taylor points, most of us fear the dark or what lurks within it, and we use copious amounts of artificial light in order to avoid it, thus missing rich beauty laying wait in darkness. She tells the story of a caving experience she undertook as part of her research. Deep within the recesses of the cave she stopped to sit in pitch black dark. Before turning off her headlamp she noticed glittering stones sparkling overhead like bright diamonds. Finding an abandoned glint on the cave floor she snatched it up into her pocket to serve as a souvenir. Later as she packed her bags to return home, she stumbled across a small chunk of dull rock and realized it was the same shimmering crystal that shone so bright in the depths of darkness, but in daylight, it had no charm, it could have been a piece of dirt.
In darkness our eyes are strained to find light, vision intensifies in search of it. If you’ve ever been in a cave you know eventually the strain becomes painful and it’s easier just to close your eyes. If there’s even a slight impression of light our eyes quickly avert towards it. If we are fearful in that all-encompassing darkness, one crevice of light brings calm from anxiety and hope that an exit isn’t too far. This is the type of light the star provided for the Wisemen. This is the hope-filled light Jesus promised within his birth. The greater the darkness we bear, the brighter even the faintest of lights penetrates fiercely into our souls.
In darkness, the tiniest flicker of light restores our longings, calms anxiety, stills our hearts. It is there the lowliest savior is found piercing through all matters of dark. Because Christ entered the stage in darkness, even in humility he could not be missed. The “origin” stories of Christ begin in places of darkness (and I don’t mean scary dark places, think more of the night). Mary and Joseph interact with angels at night and in dreams, they journey to Bethlehem and arrive in Bethlehem at night, we think of his birth at night among stars, the shepherds hear a word from the angels at night, the Wisemen follow a star which causes us to think of night. The story is composed of images of darkness because in darkness revelation and discernment become blindingly apparent, unmistakable and sharply perceived.
Let’s consider that perhaps in darkness, where we feel vulnerable, unsure, unbalanced and topsy-turvy that our discernment is keenest. We think of darkness in fearful terms or even anti-Christian, but God seems to hold a different relationship with darkness.
“Darkness is not dark to you (God); the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. “ Psalm 139:11
When considering spirituality we feel uncomfortable with the absence of light and it’s shown in phrases like, “dark times or dark seasons, places.” God is present in all places, seasons and times and by his very nature lights is ever-present in what we consider dark. It may not be blazing like the sun, but even if ever so faint a glimmer of pure light is omnipresent. The story of Christ reminds us that even in recesses of darkness, there are immense gems reflecting light in all manners of life; dark or light. It doesn’t take profuse amounts of light to illuminate truth, beauty, and hope. A simple flicker will do.
A Christ enters humanity, and then indwells in us, we become light as he is light. This light shines in darkness and darkness doesn’t overcome it, they co-exist (John 1 paraphrase). Darkness can never be overcome by light, but the light shines with greater brilliance in darkness. A masterful tension in which only God holds in balance and is not to be feared. The amount of darkness is of no consequence because it is in balance with light.
We find benefits in darkness that enrich our spiritual understanding as it provides an escape from peripheral distractions running mayhem in our day. When we embrace the night as equally God-given as the day, we discover its place in the balance. In scripture, it is in darkness God ordains creation, in secret darkness he forms us in the womb, and out of night the Christ child is discovered. Furthermore, God guards his people as they travel in the dark, he shelters and protects, reveals or hides, meets with us, reveals himself to us (individually/corporately) and walks us through it. God is as much in the night as he is in the day.
Necessity of Darkness
Michigan winters can be bitter, but when I’m brave enough to venture out, the early mornings before dawn is the best time of day. The daytime is often gray and overcast, but through the course of the night, clouds dissipate making way for a striking view of the night sky scattered with millions of glimmering stars and a prominent white-glowing moon, in any shape, it glows brilliantly. The air is thin, burning cold and still. Early enough there are no sounds to be heard, birds sleep, deer huddle down and alarms are yet to sound. There is no other peace. If not for darkness, I’d never have received such a simple poignant gift designed by the creator.
Darkness opens a space for Epiphany; a revelation. The shadows of darkness are safe havens that protect, guard, and care for what is necessary.
when I think of you on my bed,
Psalm 63:6-8 (NRSV)
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you;
Seasons of darkness may cause us fear and anxiety, but what I hope for us to see is that if it weren’t for darkness, the totality of hope would lack its full significance. In darkness treasures are mined, our senses are heightened, ordinary objects become magical, God’s voice becomes pronounced, hope is born. We needn’t fear times of struggle or moments we feel far from God or that we live in dark times. When we feel deeply buried in sadness, guilt, shame, loss or disappointment we don’t need to write it off as a dark season obscured by God, rather we can walk fully confident in perceived darkened moments because we know all spaces and times are illuminated by God’s existence. Nothing is hidden, we are not far from his care, devotion or presence. It may be wiser that when we face those moments that instead of panicking, we stop to wonder if God wishes to speak, protect, tend to, offer rest, or take you somewhere in that momentary shadow.
Our rector recently shared a message on Matthew 2:1-12 in which he spoke about the nature of light in the dark that spoke great truth to me. He said, “Light in darkness enlightens. It’s a fulfilling light, revealing a message, a gift, a truth, a being. “
Darkness nurtures hope, perhaps darkness may be the only space in which to find hope. Therefore, we ought not to shrink away from darkness* around us, including areas we consider to be dark such as suffering, hardship, struggle, and pain. Embracing darkness, night, or the shadow may be the nearest way toward revelation, wisdom, discernment, and truth. Darkness might waken you to Epiphany.
*Note: When talking about darkness, I am not implying evil. I do not liken darkness to evil and consider it a different topic.
What’s been your perception of darkness in your spiritual journey? Comment below. If you’d like to join me along the wandering way, be sure to subscribe at the bottom of the website and share with a friend.
Awesome post! Keep up the great work! 🙂