faith, darkness and some light

faith, darkness and some light October 13, 2006

Anne Lamott has written a wonderful book called Plan B: Further Thoughts On Faith. You should read it. Well written and real. She took her friend who was dying of cancer away to a nice hotel and spa for an Easter weekend (a week late) and just treated her to a good retreat. It is a moving story. Lamott writes:

“We celebrated Good Friday that night, a week late. It’s a sad day, of loss and cruelty, and all you have to go on is faith that the light shines in the darkness, and nothing, not even death, not disease, not even the government, can overcome it. I hate that you can’t prove the beliefs of my faith. If I were God, I’d have the answers at the end of the workbook so you could check as you went along, to see if you’re on the right track. But nooooooo. Darkness is our context, and Easter’s context: without it, you couldn’t see the light. Hope is not about proving anything. It’s about choosing to believe this one thing, that love is bigger than any grim bleak shit anyone can throw at us” (pp. 274f).

Yup. That about says it for me. Thanks Anne.
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