My Only Friend Is Darkness: Living the Night of Faith

by Barbara Dent

Barbara Dent's audience is those fully committed Christians "who have advanced far enough in love of God to enter the Night of Faith and feel the need of explanation, guidance and reassurance." MY ONLY FRIEND IS DARKNESS is articulate and insightful. Although dealing with a difficult subject, the author writes clearly and readably, making excellent use of parables and images to clarify those things which defy straightforward explanation. Dent guides her readers through the deep purifications endured by the spirit as it is cleansed by God of its sinful inclinations. She examines the variety and intensity of sufferings, upheavals, turmoils, temptations, setbacks and workings of grace upon the deepest levels of our being, comparing this experience to depth psychotherapy in the way it examines the hidden levels of one's being and works to heal old wounds. Drawing heavily on the writings of John of the Cross and her own deep personal experience of the dark night of the soul, she has produced a powerful book that makes a significant contribution to spiritual literature.

Genres: Spirituality

Paperback

Published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

My understanding of Barbara Dent's intent with this book is a layman's summary of St. John of the Cross' teachings on the dark night of the soul/spirit, with elaboration of the effects in the psychological (in addition to the spiritual) realm. Having not read John of the Cross myself, or experienced a ton of this firsthand, my review of the content cannot be super thorough. However, as a book that intends to be a guide through a complicated and intense experience, I wondered about the authors' authority on the subject many times. This is somewhat because her name is relatively unknown, save this book, somewhat for peculiar imagery that she used at times, and somewhat because she repeatedly refers to the Holy Spirit as "she" which sent up a bit of a red flag. I would not recommend this as the first or only text on this subject, and if one needs something easier to read than the spiritual giants themselves, Fire Within would be a better first stop than this.

However, the strength of the book does lie in its imagery and psychological descriptions, and I found the poetry at the end of each chapter beautiful.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to rate, because I don't know if I was the correct audience. If I were deeper into my journey of faith, perhaps it would deserve a higher rating, but I found it a rather laborious read, the further I read the more so. However, I appreciate that it was readable and somewhat relatable, even with my ignorance of the teachings of St. John of the Cross, and it certainly had me in a state of self-reflection.

Ultimately, this book discusses the meaning of the 'night of faith', and describes that only complete submission to God's will can bring inner peace; this means accepting we are lost in uncertainty, severing all attachments which bring us earthly joy, and curbing any self-seeking thoughts or feelings or judgements of others. Being human of course, reading this created discomfort, and to practice these would be a lifelong challenge for sure - I think that's why many people don't bother, they seek comfort at all costs, and I can barely blame them. Anyway, it was only okay for me personally, but I believe it may be useful to many depending on where you are in your journey of faith.