Posted by: David Lupo, ss.cc. (Warehamdal@aol.com) Institution:Sacred Hearts Retreat Center Date posted: Mon Nov 3 21:17:48 1997
Message: I am so glad that Walter Bruggeman brought this topic up! It seemed to capture the show and its participants in enchantment. Night time, the darkness, the stuff we keep hidden.....how can this not be grist for the mill of one's relationship with God?
The God of the known is also the God of the unknown. He sees us as we truly are, warts and all. We have a hard time with this, preferring that God see only the obedient, holy side of us, the church-attendant, the bible enthusiast. Can we embrace our shadow side? The side that hates people...that wonders about one's walk with God....that wonders if there is a God! This is the place of psychological, social, and sexual chaos. But God and the Spirit hover there, waiting to bring order.
Indeed, each of us are the Genesis story! Each of us are called to wrestle with our demons! Yes, Hugh, with our black dogs! In a place where we will be chilled to the bone with fear. In that heart of darkness in the soul, where there is pain, regret, doubts, self-hatred, nakedness......ahhhh, there is God!
Posted by: .. Robert .. Mitchell Institution: None Date posted: Sat Nov 1 15:03:05 1997
Message: ..... Night , when one is through with the taskes of the
day ... more at rest and thougtful and alone. ... ... ...
"NIGHT" ... is at times used in a figurative , or symbolic
, sense in the Bible. ... (John 9:4 .;. Job 10:21-22) ...
... ... ... At Romams 13:11-12 , "the night" ... manifestly
refers to a period of darkness caused by God's Adversary ,
... which is due to be ended by Christ Jesus and his reign.
... (See Eph. 6:12-13 .;. Col 1:13-14) ... ... ... ... ...
At 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ... God's servants who have been
enlightened by his truth are contrasted with worldly people
who have not. ... ... Their way of life manifests that thay
are ... "sons of light and sons of day. ... [Thay] belong
neither to night nor to darkness". ... (See John 8:12 .;.
12:36 , 46 .;. 1Peter 2:9 .;. 2Cor. 6:14) ... ... etc. ...
Posted by: Donna Williamson (dwilly@earthlink.net) Institution: none Date posted: Sat Apr 26 21:23:43 1997
Message: I believe that in this story night is very similar to Jung's shadowy realm. when one is emersed in the consciousness of light there is no struggle, no need to wrestle with one's God. However, in the realm of the shadow, in the realm of our darkness, we must struggle because the things there are tabboo, sinful, unpermitted. They are things like lust and murderous rage, and hatred for everything not meeting one's own whims. these are indeed dark places, and it is only by wrestling with God in these shadowy realms that light is eventually shed, and greater understanding and compassion, i.e. spiritual maturity can eventually unfold. Perhaps enough to begin a nation.
Posted by: Lyle R. Demery (demery@draco.bison.mb.ca) Institution: none Date posted: Sun Jan 12 23:52:05 1997
Message: Daytime is always a bright, vivid affair. During those hours we are occupied with the physical world around us through our work and our leisure time. At night the physical world is shrouded and our senses are not as useful, leaving us to the devices of our "spiritual" senses. Night is therefore a good setting in which to wrestle with a God whom many know but cannot really see. Nighttime is, in this day and age, the accepted milieu for most types of mystical experience, Christian or otherwise. Whatever the nature of the encounter, having it take place at night also gives it a very human sense of intimacy. Although we cannot see God visibly, in the darkness perhaps we can feel closer to the spirit.
Posted by: Garry Hallman (GJHallman@aol.com) Institution: none Date posted: Mon Dec 30 1:07:13 1996
Message: One of the most fascinating aspects of the Bible as a whole is it's subtle foreshadowing. When God wrestled with Jacob, this, to me, symbolizes the struggles that will come. After they are finished, Jacob is renamed Israel further supporting this symbolism. The fact this happens at night shows the dark times and struggle that will happen to Israel will occur between being with God at creation and the restoration, or the daytime.
