GROWING IN DARKNESS

Joan Chittister wrote, “Darkness deserves gratitude. It is the alleluia point at which we learn to understand that all growth does not take place in the sunlight.”

Darkness can mean two things: the absence of light or the presence of evil, or both. Both of these can be teachers for our growth and life. Darkness is seldom a pleasant learning experience… but we do learn. This is often called the ‘hard way’ to learn.

I have not grown to the place where I can with Chittister say, ‘darkness deserves gratitude.’ I do not look back or forward to darkness experiences and appreciate them. I am still more apt to whine and bawl and complain about how tough I have it instead. Maybe some day I will see it as an ‘alleluia point.’ Now I just try to get up, dust myself off, calculate my newly experienced darkness knowledge and try again.
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Jesus