Sacred Darkness: Encountering Divine Love In Life’s Darkest Places

When we think of God, we often imagine light. Certainly God lives in the warmth of sunlight and within our happiest days—but God also dwells in darkness. Human life begins in the darkness and intimacy of the womb. Human life also ends in darkness, but death is the most sure doorway to new lifeIn Sacred Darkness, Paul Coutinho, SJ, examines how many Christians are fearful of dark times and struggles, yet it is often darkness that sheds light on our world and helps us live more effectively and more fully in the painful situations of our lives. Coutinho shares stories of how the power of darkness can empower others. For example, he discusses a man who conquers his alcoholism when he learns to see his addiction as dark and not his soul as dark, and an abused woman who comes to terms with her painful past and reemerges as an apostle to others who have been victimized. Coutinho also relates his own personal experiences of darkness, including a face-to-face experience with God during the black of night when he was feeling most bleak.