How Dark Is The Night?

Life is not always surrounded with butterflies and flowers. Even the sky is not always filled with rainbows and sunshine. We are aware as the world spins on its axis, our weather changes, and climate varies. There will come a time for this certain “dark night” moments. As the world experienced its darkest point whenever the night appears and so all its creatures that wrestle on it, hardly perceive the sun’s weakest grin. Likewise, in our existence, as Filipinos we live in a society in which the expression of lament is often common. It is rooted in our character - the practice of being too emotional and affectionate. I heard from a good speaker named Dr. Frederico Villanueva of UP, as he emphasized the connection of our national personification – Juan Dela Cruz a name for a (John of the Cross), to our experience of suffering.

I appreciate the creative thought shown by the speaker in linking these two exceptional standpoints. At first, while listening to his discussion, I realized that our experience of poverty and injustice has a resemblance to the exact journey of St. John in his excruciating dark night situation. I understand why the Filipino is attached on the feeling of distress and how we illuminate our pain whenever we face such discrimination.

In his explanation, he stated two types of dark night; active night and passive night. The active night is actively seeking things and pushing oneself in order to walk away from this saddest phase. While passive night is the other way around, seeing things as a part of the journey, patiently enduring the darkest portion of the course. Courageously learn the hardest lesson through the deepest way on hand. Unfortunately, most  people was stuck in the active night state, wherein we assume that in our sufferings we need to instantly work for something in order to halt the pain and agony. Obviously, it is wrong because all we need is to be sensitive and cooperative. We need to view suffering as a part of victory. The Filipino saying “tumakbo ng matulin” (to run fast) is not helpful, instead it making things more complicated. We need to enjoy this dark night moment, we have to admit that there are certain times in life that we cannot do anything but to yield and wait for the Divine to rescue us in His chosen time. The commotion may not be that inviting, but as we learn to ‘trust’ this passive night state can also be a source of hope and strength.

Human suffering can never be eliminated in life; as long as we live in this fallen world we can still experience the bitter truth that pain is present. Although, we can encounter it in different situation, still we can assure that in our suffering we can gain wisdom and increase our faith. 
So now, go out while it still dark, don't wait for the time when the sun will rise, but rather count each stars that smile!