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Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times
A “deeply spiritual and socially radical” (Dr. Obery Hendricks, PhD) guide to uplift our spirits as we work for justice in these politically turbulent times—from Reverend Otis Moss, III, Senior Pastor at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and one of the country’s most renowned and beloved spiritual and civil rights leaders.
Once again, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. first observed in the 1960s, it is midnight in America—a dark time of division and anxiety, with threats of violence looming in the shadows. In 2008, the Trinity United Church in Chicago received threats when one of its parishioners, Senator Barack Obama, ran for president. “We’re going to kill you” rang in Reverend Otis Moss’s ears when he suddenly heard a noise in the middle of the night. He grabbed a baseball bat to confront the intruder in his home. When he opened the door to his daughter’s room, he found that the source of the noise was his own little girl, dancing. She was simply practicing for her ballet recital.
At that moment, Pastor Moss saw that the real intruder was within him. Caught in a cycle of worry and anger, he had allowed the darkness inside. But seeing his daughter evoked Pslam 30: “You have turned my mourning into dancing.” He set out to write the sermon that became this inspiring and transformative book.
Dancing in the Darkness is a “life-affirming” (Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown) guide to the practical, political, and spiritual challenges of our day. Drawing on the teachings of Dr. King, Howard Thurman, sacred scripture, southern wisdom, global spiritual traditions, Black culture, and his own personal experiences, Dr. Moss instructs you on how to practice spiritual resistance by combining justice and love. This collection helps us tap into the spiritual reserves we all possess but too often overlook, so we can slay our personal demons, confront our civic challenges, and reach our highest goals.
Once again, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. first observed in the 1960s, it is midnight in America—a dark time of division and anxiety, with threats of violence looming in the shadows. In 2008, the Trinity United Church in Chicago received threats when one of its parishioners, Senator Barack Obama, ran for president. “We’re going to kill you” rang in Reverend Otis Moss’s ears when he suddenly heard a noise in the middle of the night. He grabbed a baseball bat to confront the intruder in his home. When he opened the door to his daughter’s room, he found that the source of the noise was his own little girl, dancing. She was simply practicing for her ballet recital.
At that moment, Pastor Moss saw that the real intruder was within him. Caught in a cycle of worry and anger, he had allowed the darkness inside. But seeing his daughter evoked Pslam 30: “You have turned my mourning into dancing.” He set out to write the sermon that became this inspiring and transformative book.
Dancing in the Darkness is a “life-affirming” (Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown) guide to the practical, political, and spiritual challenges of our day. Drawing on the teachings of Dr. King, Howard Thurman, sacred scripture, southern wisdom, global spiritual traditions, Black culture, and his own personal experiences, Dr. Moss instructs you on how to practice spiritual resistance by combining justice and love. This collection helps us tap into the spiritual reserves we all possess but too often overlook, so we can slay our personal demons, confront our civic challenges, and reach our highest goals.
- GenresNonfiction
141 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2023
93 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 11, 2023
Excellent book weaving spirituality and practice with the practical
I really appreciated the underlying tow of nonviolence as a key practice. Rev. Moss invokes Howard Thurman, MLK and Malcolm X and lessons of how the beloved community requires us to practice justice and nonviolence hand in hand. I especially noted how nonviolence is an inclusive resistance, whereas violence only uses able-bodied people (usually men). Nonviolence paired with justice leads to healing and restoration.
I really appreciated the underlying tow of nonviolence as a key practice. Rev. Moss invokes Howard Thurman, MLK and Malcolm X and lessons of how the beloved community requires us to practice justice and nonviolence hand in hand. I especially noted how nonviolence is an inclusive resistance, whereas violence only uses able-bodied people (usually men). Nonviolence paired with justice leads to healing and restoration.
May 21, 2025
Amazing, Amazing Grace!
This is a marvelous gift for our divided times, our divided country.
Thank you, Otis Morris III, for helping this man to learn, attempt, hesitantly even try? to Dance in the Darkness. May our nation, our world learn to dance with joy, like your daughter, even, maybe especially, in these dark times.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This is a marvelous gift for our divided times, our divided country.
Thank you, Otis Morris III, for helping this man to learn, attempt, hesitantly even try? to Dance in the Darkness. May our nation, our world learn to dance with joy, like your daughter, even, maybe especially, in these dark times.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
May 24, 2025
Not bad, and a short read. At times I was moved, but there were other times when I was thinking that I was more with Roxane Gay on that point.
To be fair, I had just been reading a lot about police abuses and he writes about trying to keep a good relationship with the police, which I am sure is practical, but I may not have been in the best frame of mind for it.
To be fair, I had just been reading a lot about police abuses and he writes about trying to keep a good relationship with the police, which I am sure is practical, but I may not have been in the best frame of mind for it.
March 23, 2025
Very moving and well written with lots of provocative thoughts
November 3, 2025
A book worthy of MLK
May we all learn to "Dance in the Darkness", Improvise our voices in the Jazz of life. Sing loud enough WITH LOVE to overcome the verses of fear and hate.
May we all learn to "Dance in the Darkness", Improvise our voices in the Jazz of life. Sing loud enough WITH LOVE to overcome the verses of fear and hate.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews