"Life begins in darkness and ends in darkness. In the beginning, there was only darkness. According to the Bible and according to science, it is from this darkness, emptiness, and nothingness that all of creation comes into being. Darkness is a mystery; it evokes curiosity and fear of the unknown, and at the same time it brings us into the embrace of reality. This reality is all around us, pregnant with the existential truths of life.
"As the sacred story states, 'The earth was empty and without form and darkness covered the face of the deep.' Out of this darkness God commanded the revelation of light. This light was not the sun or the moon but light that came from within the darkness. This light is an integral and essential part of the darkness. That darkness at the heart of creation has its counterpart in the darkness living at the core of each of us.
"In the dark moments and struggles of our lives, we often realize the beauty and the power that lie deep within us. This darkness sheds light on our external world and helps us not only cope with, but also live effectively and more fully in, the painful situations of our lives. This light comes from the darkness at our core. This light — the light within the dark cave of our being — draws us back to the very source of life. There is comfort, there is peace, and there is power in the dark cave of our being where God truly dwells."
