Anyone who is religious sees the signs of the end of days. The world is in trouble. America is in real trouble. It is no secret that society and morals are falling to an all-time low. Social media, which once was hailed as a breakthrough in communication, now sits among the top reasons for society’s problems.
People are more isolated than ever, as they watch algorithm after algorithm of judgment-altering content designed to send them deeper into the rabbit hole of their own anxiety and emotions. As people digest the trappings of social media, they have begun to feel inadequate because they cannot afford the life they see online. They cannot acquire the things the “online influencers” have. This is leaving millions of people empty with no connection to anyone anymore.
Pastor Otis Moss III, the senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, understands the struggles of the modern person and offers some incredible solutions from his new book. Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times helps you find a way to fill your spirit and soul with nurturing guidance.
“We live in interesting times right now. People feel empty inside and literally do not know what to do,” Moss said. “People are trying to fill their souls but are not getting the results they want.”
People were already moving away from God and the church. The pandemic exacerbated the problem when society shut down. Those who used to go to church had to find new ways to continue to have a relationship with God.
People have tried all kinds of things to fill the empty hole in their spirits. Maybe getting a new car will work. No. Maybe getting as many likes as possible will fix it. No. Maybe acquiring as many things as possible will work. That didn’t work either. Maybe working 100 hours a week might help. Nothing. How about conquering as many women as possible? Not even close. So, what can people do to fill their spirits? How about the power of prayer?
Prayer is what led Moss to realize that he needed to deal with his own demons one night as he let his negative thoughts drive his actions. Moss thought there was an intruder in his house when it was really his daughter dancing in her room. At that moment, 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 Psalm 30: “You have turned my mourning into dancing.” He set out to write the sermon that became an inspiring and transformative book.
Dancing in the Darkness is a life-affirming guide to the practical, political, and spiritual challenges of the 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 his readers on how to practice spiritual resistance by combining justice and love. This collection helps people tap into the spiritual reserves they all possess but too often overlook, so they can slay their personal demons, confront their civic challenges, and reach their highest goals.
“It’s the spirit that has led me to produce this book at this time,” Moss said. “There is a spiritual yearning for something that everyone seems to be missing right now.
Dr. Moss based his book on the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. and Howard Thurman, an African American author, philosopher, theologian, mystic, educator, and civil rights leader.
Moss wants the book to serve as a blueprint on how to bring one’s soul back to GOD. Dancing in the Darkness helps the reader rediscover a love for GOD.
“We are joining political parties looking for someone to scratch our spiritual itch and we find out it doesn’t satisfy. We are scrolling looking for a lover to scratch that spiritual itch, and we find out it doesn’t satisfy,” Moss explained. “What people don’t realize is that they are really yearning to go back to this idea of love, compassion, peace, and civility. These aspects that make us fully human, that are spiritual aspects, are what Jesus was engaging with when he communicated with people.”
Dr. Moss has a point. Suicide among Blacks has risen to alarming rates in the past ten years. After the pandemic, the number rose again. The feeling of loneliness and not belonging are the primary reasons people are depressed today.
The catchphrase of the Black community right now is “mental health.” It might be fair to say that the bigger catchphrase should be “spiritual health.” Both mental health and spiritual health need to become the solution when dealing with troubled souls.
The decay of society and the lack of respect for one another has poisoned Black youth to the point that kids no longer seek mentorship from their elders. Young Black adults don’t know their immediate family’s rich history of overcoming racism and oppression to become the people that exist today.
“America has done a poor job of nurturing, caring, and covering people who have deep mental health challenges,” Moss said.
Dr. Moss wants to increase awareness of the need to have mental and spiritual health discussed like cancer and other diseases. Moss recommends that religious leaders all over the country begin to have conversations about the need to bring spirituality back into the hearts of people.
“There is an anemic spiritual nature of our nation where we do a poor job of uplifting people,” Moss said. “When you don’t have the care of your neighbor when you don’t have compassion and the idea of seeking love and flourishing, it does something to your spirit. People are in survival mode.”
Moss feels like an entire generation of people is being lost in a world where people don’t care for each other.
Moss will tour the country and speak about his ideas for a more compassionate country and how the book can serve as a guide to get there.
As Dancing in the Darkness reaches more and more people, one can only hope that a new wave of love and kindness shapes people. Many feel America is at a tipping point and Moss might just have the spiritual answers everyone is seeking. Prayer can be a powerful tool to connect the mind and spirit when used correctly. The power of prayer comes with what people decide to do with their lives. Moss hopes his book, coupled with an active relationship with God is the answer to fill everyone’s spirit.
