“The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.”
― Brene Brown

Lent has been a time of deep exploration and healing. There has been freedom in places that have felt like they have been in captivity for years.  There has also been light shed on places I have never noticed- hurt and woundedness that I will need to sit with.

I believe we all have places in our soul that we try and avoid. We use all sorts of things to distract ourselves from the darkness within- excessive television, alcohol, exercise, and even religion.  I have found in my life that the only way to shine a light in dark places is to go into dark places.

The words of Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver encourage me as I journey inward.

I Go Among Trees by Wendell Berry

I go among trees and sit still.old-tree-roots
All my stirring becomes quiet
around me like circles on water.
My tasks lie in their places
where I left them, asleep like cattle.

Then what is afraid of me comes
and lives a while in my sight.
What it fears in me leaves me,
and the fear of me leaves it.
It sings, and I hear its song.

Then what I am afraid of comes.
I live for a while in its sight.
What I fear in it leaves it,
and the fear of it leaves me.
It sings, and I hear its song.

After days of labor,
mute in my consternations,
I hear my song at last,
and I sing it. As we sing,
the day turns, the trees move.

The World I Live In by Mary Oliver

I have refused to live
locked in the orderly house of
reasons and proofs;
The world I live in and believe in
is wider than that. And anyway.
what’s wrong with Maybe?

You wouldn’t believe what once or
twice I have seen. I’ll just
tell you this:
only if there are angels in your head will you
ever, possibly, see one.

What are some things that encourage you to bravely go into the dark places of your soul? What are things you are using as distractions?  May you explore all the places of your heart and find love, healing, and acceptance within.