Western civilization as a whole has failed to learn how to honor the wisdom of darkness. Rather than teaching a path of descent, Western Christianity preached a system of winners and losers, a “prosperity gospel.” Few Christians have been taught to hold the paschal mystery of both death and resurrection. —Friar Rohr
Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Wisdom Pattern: Order, Disorder, Reorder (Franciscan Media, 2020), 183–185.
And then more from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, “Before Winter Solstice, I Remember,” A Hundred Falling Veils (blog), December 17, 2024. Used with permission. For more about the poet, see WordWoman.com.
The Gift of Darkness — Center for Action and Contemplation
Hoofnote: For many years I facilitated a mental health support group called “Into The Light.” While it was mostly men living and struggling with both depression and bipolar disorder, we had many women visit as well as younger people, including students from nearby Sac State. Vulnerability and availability were the foundations which made our little group a safe place to process life in the darkness and discover the light there. As I look back at my own life and this season of sharing it with Patti (PnP On The Road—a ministry), I realize that the grace of being mentors has been bathed in vulnerability and availability.
}:- a.m.
