The Darkness

There are good people of faith who pray their rosary, have their novenas, holy pictures and little home table altars of concrete reminders of God.  These are good people and do good things, but they are not fire.  Become fire?  Only if you are willing to be in the darkness.  There is no need for fire if all around you is light, filled with certainty.  The darkness is where you lack a sense of presence, or success whatever that is in your prayer life.  All seems bleak and empty and dark.  You think you lack faith or your spiritual life is a failure.  Your prayer is dry and boring.  You are empty and feeling alone.  This is where you begin to trust that God is at work while you are powerless. This is the great leap.  It is humbling.  All you can do is keep showing up.  Eventually, you might become fire, and then the darkness is lit up and you experience "the dark light" of union beyond any good feeling of holy cards and rituals.  Your nothingness is God's everything.  In weakness there is strength.  Become fire.