Thoughts from the Dark Side

At September 13th’s benefit show I said something to the audience that surprised even me: “sometimes the darkness is our friend.” I was explaining one of our new songs “Lady in White.” It is about our beloved topic of inspiration. Strange words from a Minister of Religion unless you recall the Psalmist’s words in Psalm 88: “the darkness is my closest friend.” This is the final thought in a Job-like rant on how horrible life has been. There is no “but.” It ends there.

Sometimes life sucks. There is no explanation. There is no resolution. Like the family for whom the benefit show was established; they lost their toddler daughter just as it seemed her health was improving once and for all. It did not.

God does not protect us from darkness. There are seasons when there are no easy answers, no distinct purpose, just ambiguity and uncertainty. That, for whatever reason, is where inspiration lies. There in the darkness is where we find the “lady in white, wrapped in the light.”

“Even the darkness will not be dark to you…the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” ~ Psalm 139.12