MSI Press Blog

  Spiritual writers—most famously St. John of the Cross—speak of two “dark nights” that mark the deepening of the interior life: the dark night of the senses and the dark night of the soul . The language can sound dramatic, even ominous, but these nights are not punishments. They are thresholds. They describe what happens when the familiar scaffolding of our spiritual life is quietly removed so that something truer, freer, and more God‑shaped can emerge. Understanding the difference between these two nights helps us recognize where we are, what is being asked of us, and why the experience—though disorienting—can be profoundly good. 1. The Dark Night of the Senses: When the Old Supports Fall Away The first night is the more common and the more easily misunderstood. It occurs when the external and emotional “props” of the spiritual life stop working . What it feels like Prayer becomes dry, even boring. The practices that once brought comfort no longer “feel” spiritual. Old habits of...

  In a world that promises instant clarity, curated peace, and five-step spiritual breakthroughs, the idea of a Dark Night of the Soul feels… inconvenient. It’s not marketable. It’s not fast. It doesn’t come with a workbook. But in 2026 — a year already thick with uncertainty, acceleration, and spiritual fatigue — the Dark Night might be more relevant than ever. What is the Dark Night, really? It’s not depression. It’s not burnout. It’s not a crisis of faith. It’s a stripping away. A sacred disorientation. A season where the old ways of knowing God stop working — not because God has left, but because we’ve outgrown the container. The Dark Night is not punishment. It’s invitation. Why it matters now In 2026, many people are quietly asking: Why does my prayer feel hollow? Why do the rituals that once comforted me now feel foreign? Why do I feel farther from God even though I’m doing all the “right” things? These aren’t signs of failure. They’re signs of transit...

  Recently,   Spiritually Homeless  (Girrell), reached   #63 in the Amazon category of faith deconstruction. Book description: Many have walked away from organized religion not out of apathy, but out of honesty. Still the spiritual hunger remains; the longing for community and a place called home persists.  Spiritually Homeless   offers a deeply compassionate and practical guide for those navigating spiritual life beyond church walls. Whether you left organized religion years ago or never belonged to some sect to begin with, this book will meet you right where you are. Through stories, reflection, and decades of experience in spiritual leadership and psychological insight,  Spiritually Homelesss   explores how we find belonging, create ritual, face the dark night, and rediscover awe—without needing to return to doctrines that no longer fit. keywords: spiritual hunger; spiritual seekers; leaving organized religion; life beyond church; spiritual bel...