dark night of the soul

This "RevelatorArt Hybrid" was inspired by a discussion I had this week at the VineArts Palate art discipleship group with other artists and a seperate discussion I had with a close friend who I had dinner with this week. Have you read Saint John of the Cross "The Dark Night of the Soul"? He speaks of those dry, dark, silent moments in life when we find ourselves struggling with who we are and who God is. Many of us call this a desert, a wilderness, or even the depths of depression. My friends and I call it the "blue funk". I wanted to paint about this "dark night", but wasn't sure what aspect to focus on. I created a mixed media abstract expressionist painting a few years ago titled "Sweetly Broken" where I attempted to capture the actual struggle of our hearts when we are utterly broken before God. Yet...this new painting "Dark Night of the Soul" I wanted to say something about why we should even consider allowing our hearts to go through such times (instead of trying to ignore & avoid them). I wanted to depict the freedom that comes from allowing ourselves to walk through the darkness...however long that takes. The oil painting in the center I painted years ago and it was titled "All Things New". I have also placed a couple of my sketches within the painting (in the dark areas towards the bottom half)...of a woman praying and a man with outstretched arms. And there is a quote that I layered throughout the painting background that tells the story of Sorrow & Joy uniting.

"Sorrow was beautiful, but his beauty was the beauty of the moonlight shining through the leafy branches of the trees in the woods. His gentle light made little pools of silver here and there on the soft green moss of the forest floor. And when he sang, his song was like the low, sweet calls of the nightingale, and in his eyes was the unexpectant gaze of someone who has ceased to look for coming gladness. He could weep in tender sympathy with those who weep, but to rejoice with those who rejoice was unknown to him. Joy was beautiful, too, but hers was the radiant beauty of a summer morning. Her eyes still held the happy laughter of childhood, and her hair glistened with the sunshine's kiss. When she sang, her voice soared upward like a skylark's, and her steps were the march of a conqueror who has never known defeat. She could rejoice with anyone who rejoices, but to weep with those who weep was unknown to her. Sorrow longingly said, 'We can never be united as one,' 'No, never,' responded Joy, with eyes misting as she spoke, 'for my path lies through the sunlit meadows, the sweetest roses bloom when I arrive, and songbirds await my coming to sing their most joyous melodies. ''Yes, and my path,' said Sorrow, turning slowly away, 'leads through the dark forest, and moonflowers, which open only at night, will fill my hands. Yet the sweetest of all earthly songs---the love song of the night---will be mine. So farewell, dear Joy, farewell.' Yet even as Sorrow spoke, he and Joy became aware of someone standing beside them. In spite of the dim light, they sensed a kingly Presence, and suddenly a great and holy awe overwhelmed them. They then sank to their knees before Him. 'I see Him as the King of Joy,' whispered Sorrow, 'for on His head are many crowns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. And before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness. I now give myself to Him forever. ''No, Sorrow,' said Joy softly, 'for I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of terrible agony. I also give myself to Him forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy I have ever known. ''Then we are one in Him,' they cried in gladness, 'for no one but He could unite Joy and Sorrow.' Therefore they walked hand in hand into the world, to follow Him through storms and sunshine, through winter's severe cold and the warmth of summer's gladness, and to be 'sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. 'Does Sorrow lay his hand upon your shoulder, And walk with you in silence on life's way, While Joy, your bright companion once, grown colder, Becomes to you more distant day by day? Run not from the companionship of Sorrow, He is the messenger of God to thee; And you will thank Him in His great tomorrow---For what you do not know now, you then will see; He is God's angel, clothed in veils of night, With whom 'we walk by faith' and 'not by sight' " -taken from "Streams In The Desert" by L.B.Cowman