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 Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 am
No not batman razz
The Dark Night is a period of spiritual void and doubt. It is very common in those seeking that first experience and those who have had an experience in a long time. Feelings such as this are normal and you are not alone if you are feeling this. The Dark Night is very frightening and even more so in our day in age where many people will "fake" their beliefs, leaders will encourage a "fake it or get out" attitude, and the "disposable" society's attitude toward anything that takes effort but won't net monetary rewards or instant gratification. Some of us may be going through this right now, some of us may even know individuals going through this right now. It is not uncommon.
I hope this place can be a safe haven for those who are traveling through the dark night and a place where one can express doubts and ask questions. For those of us who have seen the Light may remember what this is like or may even be going through it now questioning "was it even real". I encourage us to continue seeking and offer support to your fellow travellers.
Do not ostricize those who have doubts and questions because doubts and questions will lead a much stronger faith. Do not be afraid to question the unquestionable. If you don't ask then you may never know. My final note for those traveling the Dark Night, do not give up because you will find an answer, even if it's one you don't like, and remember you are not alone.
Discuss any of these: What are your experiences with the Dark Night? How did you get out of the Dark Night? Are you still in the Dark Night? What advice can you offer to those going through the Dark Night?
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:26 am
I was all excited about Batman. That movie is brilliant :gonk
EDIT: I'm gonna give an actual serious response now.
I've kind of been in the place described for a while now, and I feel like I'm slowly easing out of it. I haven't attended church regularly sine high school due to being unable to find a church I like here (though I stopped looking after my freshman year of college). I also have a very time demanding major, making it difficult for me to attend on campus religious events, which is also kind of lame.
In any case, I think I'm moving out of it. I spent a summer with Project Transformation in 2008, and then everything kind of fell by the wayside as I focused in on my major. Last summer I ended up returning as an intern at the last minute due to some unexpected circumstances and the grace of the staff at the program. I felt like I was being pushed, and I realized afterwards that spending the summer there was really important for me as a person. However, I don't think I was totally spiritually and emotionally prepared for it. I'm going back this summer, and I'm looking forward to totally giving myself over to whatever is needed from me this summer. I think it's going to be really important for me.
Of course, I also think it was kind of important for me to let my faith sit dormant. I realize how weird that sounds, but I think it was. I minored in religion, and I was able to learn all sorts of cool, scholarly, historical information about religion and the Bible, so it's not like it was out of my life entirely, but it was there purely as an intellectual device. Now I'm starting to feel the push back into spirituality, which I think this summer will really jump start.
I don't think it ever panicked me, because I've kind of always known that Christianity is what I truly believe in my core, and I'll always come back to it. But I've certainly been questioning a lot more recently. I think questions are important for faith though, so I try to embrace them rather than push them away.
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:10 pm
I went through one recently. I was in it for almost a year, and just recently came out of it.
I felt so distant from God. Never praying. Never reading the Bible {Both of which I still don't do entirely regularly, but now only because it's hard to push those back into habits after not being ones for so long}. I dreaded going to church, and was always hoping my fiance would forget.
But we would still go. And when we did, I hoped I would feel more, especially during worship, my favorite time. But I didn't. Then on Halloween we had a special service to end our current series. During one of the final songs I just felt broken, cried out, and sang with all of my heart. That was just the beginning of getting out of "The Dark Night", though. I still didn't feel fully right. But then, a few weeks back, during one service, I felt that feeling again, but more-so. I cried, lifted my hands high, and sang out. Ever since that I have felt God more and more, been excited about reading the Bible, and have been so anxious do go to church every week, going so far as to dance during worship. XD
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:25 pm
@freelance Your description made me think of this Gospel of Thomas 50. Jesus said, "If they say to you, 'Where have you come from?' say to them, 'We have come from the light, from the place where the light came into being by itself, established [itself], and appeared in their image.' If they say to you, 'Is it you?' say, 'We are its children, and we are the chosen of the living Father.' If they ask you, 'What is the evidence of your Father in you?' say to them, 'It is motion and rest.'" Sounds like God is working through you right now. @Vio Sounds like your doing great. I hope it continues for you.
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:52 am
I count high school as my Dark Night, not because I was really doubting God (though I did do a bit of that), but because it was such a desperate time for me. There were at least a few times where I was surprised because I was happy, and I had forgotten what that felt like. Even on days where I was happy, I think I still wanted to die. >.< Worst years of my life.
It made me decide God was the most important thing to me though, so I don't think I could go through a period where I just don't believe. I need Him too much.
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:53 am
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - I suppose you could say over the span of the past 20 years of my life, I've gone through a number of "Dark Nights". However I don't count them as a Dark Night. No I'm not being cocky or arrogant.
The way I've seen it is, every great artist, writer, actor, etc has gone through a grim dark period, however something good, whether it's new material, new artwork, new story, etc, can come from that dark period. For me, it's more of a period of enlightenment where I discover more about myself and take the steps to get myself out of my dark hole in the ground.
There's always a light in the darkness, sometimes it's bright other times it's dim. Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:06 am
Ravynne Sidhe `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - I suppose you could say over the span of the past 20 years of my life, I've gone through a number of "Dark Nights". However I don't count them as a Dark Night. No I'm not being cocky or arrogant.
The way I've seen it is, every great artist, writer, actor, etc has gone through a grim dark period, however something good, whether it's new material, new artwork, new story, etc, can come from that dark period. For me, it's more of a period of enlightenment where I discover more about myself and take the steps to get myself out of my dark hole in the ground.
There's always a light in the darkness, sometimes it's bright other times it's dim. Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' You are truly blessed. Most people are unable to see it that way.
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:15 am
rmcdra Ravynne Sidhe `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - I suppose you could say over the span of the past 20 years of my life, I've gone through a number of "Dark Nights". However I don't count them as a Dark Night. No I'm not being cocky or arrogant.
The way I've seen it is, every great artist, writer, actor, etc has gone through a grim dark period, however something good, whether it's new material, new artwork, new story, etc, can come from that dark period. For me, it's more of a period of enlightenment where I discover more about myself and take the steps to get myself out of my dark hole in the ground.
There's always a light in the darkness, sometimes it's bright other times it's dim. Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' You are truly blessed. Most people are unable to see it that way. `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - Haha I don't know about blessed. But I tend to try and think positively about the situation and have discussions with my dad and my friends about what's going on which normally does get me out of the depressive state of a "dark night" and focus on turning something negative like a dark night and transform it entirely into a period of enlightenment.
Like my dad says I know what's wrong, and I need to take the steps to fix that wrong and turn it into some right. So in essence, take whatever negativity and doubt that's circling in my head and turn it into something positive. Which is daunting, and scary as hell. Especially when my grand scheme is something I don't have experience in, and I'm somewhat phobic of my future. But it's a learning period. It's how I've looked at all my dark points: they're learning periods. If I didn't have them, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to move on and evolve. That goes for any human being really. Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
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