Dancing in the Darkness

Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times

De: Rev. Otis Moss III, Greg Lichtenberg

Narrado por: Michael Eric Dyson, Rev. Otis Moss III

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 Psalm 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.

©2023 Reverend Otis Moss III. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Much Needed Reflection on Chaos and Hope

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III is as brilliant a writer as he is an orator. Combining many ideas he has played with in the past this book both ulluminans the struggle and points the path to light for us as individuals and as a nation. I am indebted to his work and eager to share it with everyone.

Dancing in the dark

Thoroughly enjoyed this spiritual/historical book.
Great job.
Looking forward to the next one already.

Great Storyteller

This book is a great reference of love, inspiration and guidance to return to during any and every part of your life’s journey.

Needed for Now

This important book by contemporary theology of the massive importance gives us the ability to learn and grow

Amazing

This has opened my eyes up to the true meaning of justice and truth…thank you Dr Miss

History Lessons

This book has some history lessons along with lessons that can save your life. Controlling your anger, learning how to steady yourself against opposition.
A must for the library.

Compelling, Challenging and Inspiring

Pastor Moss has a gift of storytelling that keeps the reader engaged - feeling like we’re part of the action being played out. This book does so many things. First it educates. The epilogue was a full hour starting with the of the history of slavery and weaving it’s way to jazz. The stories of resilience and faith told throughout this book were encouraging. Pastor Moss’s transparency about his own struggles with fear allowed me to identify with him and trust the path he took to recognizing the beauty in dancing in the darkness. This was not a simple “everything is going to be alright” message. This was a call to action. A call to recognize as a reader that we each have a responsibility to make things better.

Inspiring

Thank for being explicit about how to combine justice and love. Eloquently written and spoken. I had to go through it several times to record the many nuggets of valuable and meaningful insights.

Excellent

Beautifully curated for such a time as this. This book is a beautiful memory of community and my village during childhood.

For all Americans of all skin colors

The author’s voice kept me listening. His message keeps me listening again and again. If this country is ever going to heal itself, it must do what is laid out in this book. This means Indigenous, European, African, Asian, and the rest who call themselves Americans. There is no other country in this world where you will find such a vast number of people whose ancestors come from other countries stretching from every habitable continent. America is like an experiment. God asks us to do this one thing: love our neighbors as ourselves. America is the proving ground. Can we do it? Dancing in the Darkness show us how.