By Deacon Roger Carr-Jones, Marriage and Family Life Coordinator
Hope in the shadows is a contemporary phrase used in Ignatian Spirituality. Ignatius speaks of finding God in difficult times: in this month of the Holy Souls has themes of loss, remembrance prayer and the Communion of Saints. Finding God in darkness and suffering connects us to the crucifixion, the means by which light is brought into our world. Finding God in the difficulties of life enables us to show solidarity to others in similar situations. Where have our own shadows become, to our surprise, light for others? If we have experienced the depths of desolation and loss, then we are able to make a real connection to those in a similar place.
A shadow, by its nature, always implies a source of light, or as one commentator, inspired by psalm 9, commented, ‘The shadow proves the sunshine’. It is in times of hardship that we become aware of God’s protection and find a path to God’s presence, grace and hope. In the writings of St Ignatius we encounter a real person, not an ideal, not a saint overpowering us, but someone who is a companion and friend on our journey. Ignatius reminds us that a saint is an intercessor, not standing outside time but active within. Ignatius is with us at this very moment and provides the opportunity for us to unburden ourselves and, if necessary, escape a shadowy existence.
We can transcend our fears and desire for self-protection best when we engage in the lives of other people. Ignatius began as an Apostle without a community, and very quickly came to realise that the greater service of Christ and his Church requires others. We need the gifts of other people, their concern, insights, energy and, on occasion, constructive criticism. Anthony De Mello regarded the ‘gift of others’ as the pathway to self-awareness, recognising them as they are, not as we project them to be. This same insight applies to ourselves: we need to see beyond the shadow image we create, to discover the image bathed in the light of Christ.
In the autumn, twilight descends very quickly, and faith is something that must endure when the light is fleeting. Twilight is a threshold time, one which is neither light nor dark. In the journey of faith this time in the shadows is an in-between experience, when our need to trust in God becomes ever greater. We hear echoes of this captured in Newman’s great hymn, ‘Lead, kindly light amidst the encircling gloom, lead thou me on’. It is in the uncertainties of life, navigating the shadows, that we most need divine guidance. It is worth our remembering that twilight always emerges into a new dawn, through which our journey into hope discovers a new path.
Hope in the shadows requires the ability to wait patiently and discern the features of our situation, worry or concern. Hope for the Christian, as Pope Francis reminded us, is not some sort of positive feeling. It is something that endures through the pain and uncertainties of life, held by a steadfast faith. In Ignatian spirituality we ‘find God in all things’ and this includes the shadows.
This is captured most beautifully by the psalmist writing, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91.9). Shadow times are a part of our human experience, a part of the spiritual rhythm for the believer. How we respond to and learn from them will enable us to notice the source of light in the gloom. Meditating on experiences helps us to notice that we do not navigate the shadows alone. The ‘evil spirit’ would prefer us to stay in isolation and confusion, which is why sharing our experiences with a friend and in prayer reorientates us.
This is a great gift, one that helps to set us back on the right path, but it also requires humility, the acceptance that alone we don’t have all the answers, and that the accompaniment of others has an intrinsic value, both in our journey through life, and more specifically our journey of faith. Where have you noticed this? When have you acted as the ‘light’, helping another through their shadows?