It Has Been Dark Before: MLK's recipe for love.

A (Mid)weekly Blessing to remind us, that darkness cannot drive out darkness.

Dear readers of our Cloister Notes,

With the sun's rays illuminating our home altar, we greet you in these last days of February. Spring is in the air; the snow has melted, and we can hear the first birds singing!

As I am still recovering from a cold, this midweek blessing comes to you from my partner,

Chuck Huff

. He offers you rays of light, meditating both on his upbringing in segregated Florida and on Martin Luther King Jr.'s recipe for love.

But first, let me remind our paid and founding subscribers of our upcoming End of Winter Solitude Retreat this Saturday, March 1st, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM CST via zoom. Thank you to all who have already reserved your spot; I am so looking forward to meeting you in person.

To find the full invite and reserve your spot, click here.

And now, Chuck’s blessing:

It Has Been Dark Before

by

Chuck Huff

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

— From the book “Strength to Love” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

My friends and fellow travelers,

It is now a week before Lent, and I believe we are all in the mood for some repentance, and may even find it welcome. It has been a rough winter in our hearts, and it seems like more will be coming. I have heard in your comments on our forums the despair and sadness. It seems like hopelessness is setting in for some.

And Almut has responded by calling us to do small things with love, to reflect on simple good deeds, and to seek refuge in sacred places. Last week she shared her beautiful photo meditation on Berlin’s Zionskirche, where Bonhoeffer taught, here.

Now it is my turn. And since this year comes my 70^th birthday, I want to remind us of a dark time when light shone bright. I grew up on the “right” side of the tracks in small town central Florida. My childhood memories are of playing alone among the trees and studying in study hall. But they do not encompass the darkness that descended over Florida from 1900 to the year of my birth. During that time, Florida was the leading state in lynchings, the violent dark heart of the oppressive system of racism that ruled the land. And I did not have any sense that things were wrong, and also missed the light of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the movement he led during that time.

But today, as your blessing, I encourage you to go back and read his words from that time.

I recommend his book Strength to Love, the source of the inspiring quote that begins this blessing (p. 47).

Or his November 27 sermon at the Dexter Avenue Church titled “Love Your Enemies,” where his erudition, poetry, and personal experience teach us that we should never to desire to “defeat another person” but always desire to defeat “evil systems.”

These are words spoken from a dark time, into our own difficult time.

Dr. King knew when to march, and when to pray, and when to gather the faithful together.

And always, always, he reminds us,

Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that.

I would love to hear stories from you of dark times in the past where people found the Strength to Love and the courage to act, pray, and gather. Almut has already shared one of hers. Now it is your turn.

And with that, here is a short Blessing:

Love.
Always love.
Love, always.

Where there is darkness,
Love the light
Bring it forward
Raise it high

Where there is hate
Sow Love
Water it.

This is your own healing
And your own blessing:

Love.
Always love.
Love, always

CH

Love to you always, Chuck with Almut and little one

PS: Do leave us a word, or a line, which spoke to your heart today. Or tell us your story where light overcame the dark. Thank you.

Light a candle with us to illuminate the world.

Thank you for reading, sharing and supporting Cloister Notes, a letter for dancing monks, weary pilgrims and wounded healers in the intersection of psychology, philosophy and spirituality. Your support makes this labor of love possible.

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Upcoming

As a token of gratitude for our paid subscribers and founding members we are excited to invite you to

Join our End of Winter Solitude 2025

Sat March 1st, 10:00 -11:30 AM CST via zoom.

Inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke's words, this Zoom mini-retreat will guide us inward through readings, journaling, contemplation, and shared insights. Together, we'll explore a wisdom text on the Deeper Self, to lead us toward self-discovery and communal connection.

Here you can find the full invite and the link to reserve your spot.

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In case you missed it

Taking refuge in an old Berlin church where Bonhoeffer once taught.

On doing the next thing.

On Thresholds and new beginnings.

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About Cloister Notes

A letter for dancing monks and weary pilgrims in the intersection of psychology, philosophy and spirituality. Contemplations on being human to deepen your path, nourish your heart and build wisdom within.