Our bulletin this morning had an excerpt from Walter Hilton, an Augustinian mystic of the 14th Century. He was known for the beauty and simplicity of his writings in describing the soul drawing close to God through love. He had tremendous insight to those dark times where we aren’t sure our efforts are drawing us any closer to God.  

 

“When someone first begins to perceive that the love of this world is false and temporary, and begins to prefer the love of God, that person will not instantly be brought into that light. There will be night for a while. It is a good night, a luminous darkness…. Even so, this night of the soul can be distressing as well as comforting….The world is near, and God seems far away. If this should happen to you, don’t be discouraged….wait for God’s grace. Focus your attention on Jesus. Think only of him. Jesus, who is both love and light, is in this darkness. It does not matter whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. Understand that it is the darkness before dawn.”