I finished reading Barbara Brown Taylor’s Learning to Walk in the Dark last night.
Reading her books refreshes my soul, like a drink of cool water on a hot Texas
afternoon refreshes my body. Life has been too full of dark times recently, and
I feel weighed down by worry and sadness. I find I have to remind myself to
take slow deep breaths rather than panicky sips, and also to remember that life
will be brighter again. In the midst of the shadows of illness and death of
family and friends, I am comforted by God’s presence. Taylor’s book is a timely
reminder that much as I do not like the dark times in life, by God’s grace I
have survived them in the past, and through those dark times, I have learned some things about life and
about myself I would not have learned otherwise.
As I wait for life to circle back to sunny times, I am
trying to continue to care for myself as best I can. I’m finding ways to celebrate life and
reasons to laugh with family and friends, and I’m trying to be faithful to my
usual devotional, prayer, exercise, and healthy eating and sleeping habits. I’m
grateful for my family and friends and for my church family. I’m especially grateful for those who are
patient with me right now, and who are praying for me. The news from around the
world of people who suffer from horrific violence and dislocation is a timely
reminder to put my problems in perspective. My life is richly blessed in so
many ways in spite of the present darkness. God is indeed good, even in the
shadow times.
Grace and Peace,
Donna
