We grew in the darkness of the womb and happily so a truth we are privileged to rediscover every day now in our household. Every living thing grows from the darkness. We cannot sleep with our eyes open. We need the darkness to refresh us. All of our vital organs, everything that keeps us alive hearts and brains, lungs and livers all function in the dark space with us.
Seeds sprout in subterranean darkness.
Supporting the greatest trees, as they reach for the sun, are roots sunk deep into the dark earth. Anything that would grow up, from seeds to seminarians, must first reach into the darkness for nourishment. Last year at this time, on sabbatical, I was deep into reading and research, more deeply in touch with what was going on inside of me than I had been for quite some time. None of us can. But we can learn to befriend the darkness and to enter expectantly into the cloud.