Funny Thing Journey

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the library check-out desk. Browsing through the non-fiction, I spotted a book by Thomas Moore titled Dark Nights of the Soul in the 200s, the call numbers which include books about religion. I pulled it off the shelf, shrugged, and then added it to my bag thinking it was time I read this classic.

What makes the library episode funny is that without realizing it, I had experienced a senior moment. While sorting through the books at home, I read Moore’s subtitle: A Guide to Finding Your Way Through Life’s Ordeals. Then I read the author’s bio on the back sleeve and realized my mistake.

I had confused the title with that of the mystic St. John of the Cross’s Dark Night (singular) of the Soul. In addition, I errantly identified the author as St. Thomas More, the 15th-century Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII. Nevertheless, I thought reading the book written by the author with two o’s in his last name may still be promising.

Born in Detroit in 1940, Thomas Moore is a psychotherapist with theology and religion degrees who continues to write and lecture. Keeping an open mind, I decided to read the book. I barely made it through the introduction before grabbing a piece of paper, (I would never highlight or scribble in a library book!) taking notes, and jotting down my thoughts.

By the end of chapter one, titled “The Night Sea Journey” in honor of Jonah, the hesitant prophet who spent three nights in the belly of a whale, I knew I wanted to share my reflections. Published in 2004, Moore’s writing unites spirituality with his love for the arts, as well as his psychological background. The following are my musings thus far, not necessarily in the order in which I scribbled:

• • Dark times can make you a person of insight. Not necessarily the enemy, they could become your friends and teachers. Suffering can even be sacramental, a divine grace that fuels courage and self-restoration.
  • Your dark night can be both your anguish and your deliverance. When bound in darkness, you can emerge with better control of emotions or reactions, especially when under stress. Being patient during tribulation, both mental and physical, can help you find meaning in the dark.
  • Every human journey is filled with emotional tunnels, and walking through them requires wrestling with the devil. Listen to heavy rains during your storms, and do not avoid life’s dark beauty. Instead, search for meaning in the dark and make room for yourself to become who you might be.
  • Listen, also, for voices that will help you discern your fears. Scripture and religious traditions are full of wisdom and can be a tremendous source of guidance. However, while in your womb-like night, do not force discovering a way out of the darkness because while in it, you are transforming your soul.
  • In the same way that musicians sing the blues to portray memories of sadness and loss, those of us in dark soul times should welcome poetic impulses to express our dark feelings. We must find a creative means to express our circumstances that suit our talents and temperaments. In this way, we sing a psalm to the God who is our partner in darkness.

And my favorite…

• • Concentrate on what is happening in the moment. When you sit, sit; when you bend, bend; when you reach, reach; when you stand, stand. Be in the journey without hurrying.

** Please note that I have discussed only parts of chapter one. If you want to explore more, read the book yourself. 😊 Thank you for joining me during this part of my sea journey. May you find peace as you wade through yours.