The stars are out.

And Michaela reminded me of a discussion we had a few years ago about the mystery of God. It stemmed from me quoting Gregory of Nyssa, who apparently said something like this-

The move towards God is a journey into Holy darkness.

It really resonated with me- it spoke of the mystery of God, and the presence that we often feel in open spaces. It also spoke to me of a process of unknowing that I was experiencing at the time- a loosening of absolutes and a discovery of faith that is no longer built from stones, but is made up of reflected flecks of light.

The first collection of writing I put together was called ‘Blue Dark‘ because of old Gregory… and because of a lovely poem by our friend Susan.

At the time of our discussion, some of my friends (and Michaela) did not get it. God is LIGHT not darkness they said. Darkness is about fear and loneliness…

Then Michaela had this encounter with starlight.

And, unusually for her, wrote a lovely poem. I thought it time to reproduce it here, along with some photo’s taken this evening…

Starlit darkness

In the darkness

Is a childhood fear

Safe from one streetlight

To the next

Fear locked away

Till I am again

Out alone

No streetlights to rely on

In the darkness

Is no hope

No mystery

At best nothingness

At worst a nightmare

Waiting to happen

But then you talk

Of the starlit darkness

And I remember for a moment

The fear

The quick steps up our hill

Only to stop halfway

Breath taken by the beauty

Eyes lifted heavenward

Thankful for the big sky

Eyes searching something familiar

But yet awesome

No more fear

Only wonder

At the beauty of the darkness

That brings out the stars.

Michaela Goan

December 2007