We have all had the experience of leaving a darkened room and stepping outside into brilliant sunlight. Initially, the experience of light is so intense that it is painful to the human eye, even though sunlight is actually life-giving. What is true below is true above. When we meditate or pray with great depth, the light of God’s presence can be so bright that at times it actually causes us pain. God’s light reveals us to ourselves, causing us to see and feel our pain: our egoic strategies, our need to be in control, and even our resistance to love, truth, and beauty. When this happens to me, I often weep. Mystics refer to this weeping as the gift of tears. Sometimes I know what I am crying about, such as past misdeeds; at other times I weep for no apparent reason. Regardless, these tears are always fruitful, because they soften my heart. When my heart is soft, God’s loving presence becomes very real, palpable, and so very sweet.
Welcome, holy tears.
The Light And Blessing Of The Dark Night
