The Dark Clouds of Life

Surfing Waves of Emotion, Finding the Light

An image I captured during the recent monsoon season in Arizona.

I’ve been writing this article for about three weeks. In other words, I haven’t written anything useful for almost a month. I’ve been stuck in a creative rut. It’s as if I’m stuck in a silent storm, with dark clouds consuming me.

Whenever I attempted to write recently, I produced a screen full of rubbish, or so I thought. I’ve been here before. The same happens with painting, playing Pickleball, and raising capital for new real estate deals; there’s an ebb and flow and an occasional storm of self-condemnation and inner turmoil.

These dark clouds are not new to me. They, like storms, go by many names. The darkest clouds used to freak me out, especially when I was a kid. I thought something was wrong with me for the longest time. It was as if I sensed that a part of me was damaged goods. But over time, I’ve come to accept the dark cloud for what it is: a temporary void and offset to the typically good days rich with faith, family, health, and feeling blessed overall. It’s being further away from my creator and the unconditionally loving light that our Father radiates.

I’m pretty sure most people know what these clouds feel like. Some of us experience hurricane-force storms that drive us to doctor’s offices for solutions. We get prescriptions, counseling…