Enter in to Darkness

Spiritual RhythmsSpiritual Direction Practice
Written By LCSD

“There is in God, some say,

A deep but dazzling darkness”

- Henry Vaughan, The Night

As we draw ever closer to the longest night of the year, it seems right to pause for a moment in that darkness and wonder at the treasures it might hide in its shadows.

In the darkness we are reminded that some of the most intimate experiences of God’s presence that the Bible tells us of, happen in deep darkness: Moses ascending the mountain to encounter God; Solomon witnessing God’s presence filling the completed temple like thick darkness; Jacob wrestling with God in the night; Samuel called by God while all others slept. 

And here, at Christmas, so much of the story happens under a starry sky.

To enter into the darkness, is to submit to a kind of blindness, an unknowing. The usual senses we have relied upon no longer function. All the normal signposts and ways of being and moving are removed. We have to approach this space in a completely new way; we have to approach God in a completely new way.

Joan Chittister writes:

"Never fear periods of darkness in life. They are the atrium to new phases of life, the threshold to new experience, the invitation to move on from where you are to where there is more for you to learn." (in Light in the Darkness)

When we find ourselves in that darkness - through choice or through circumstance - we need companions who are wise enough not to fear the darkness, but to trust in what will be discovered when we gather up the courage to submit ourselves to the night path. It is not easy to walk in the dark - there is much that might trip us up, there are things that lurk in the shadows that might not be comfortable to encounter. The darkness can bring grief, anger, and confusion, but it can also become a space of awe, delight and relief. For darkness is the birthplace of all creation, and from our own dark seasons, comes the possibility of new life. 

Isn’t that why we find ourselves singing each Christmas, “Oh holy child of Bethlehem… enter in, be born in us this day”?

At Christmas, in the darkest part of our year, we are reminded that God dwells in the darkness, is to be found in the hiddenness of our lives and our world. As spiritual companions, we walk with courage and hope into that darkness, willing to learn how to rely on new spiritual senses, trusting that amidst the grief and pain of life, God is present. 

Barbara Brown Taylor once wondered,

“Maybe that is the difference between pastoral counselors and spiritual directors. We go to counselors when we want help getting out of caves. We go to directors when we are ready to be led farther in.” (from Learning to Walk in the Dark)

May you have the courage this Christmas to put your hand in the hand of God, as you walk farther into that dazzling darkness!

Questions for reflection

  • What about the sacred darkness feels invitational?

  • What feels out of your comfort zone?

  • What emotions tend to surface for you in dark seasons; grief, anger, confusion, awe, relief , and how do you usually respond to them?

  • Are there companions in your life who can walk with you into the dark without rushing to fix, explain, or illuminate it?

  • What spiritual “senses” might you need to cultivate when familiar ways of knowing or navigating no longer work?

Fiona Koefoed-Jespersen

Fiona Koefoed-Jespersen is a spiritual companion, supervisor and lead tutor on the third year of the Encounter course, training new spiritual directors. She is passionate about seeking the sacred in the ordinary and, through her work, hopes to facilitate ever-deeper connection with God, our most authentic selves, and all of creation. Previously, she worked in communications and leadership in the NGO sector. She lives in Denmark with her husband and two children.

Find out more

LCSD https://www.lcsd.org.uk
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