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The Night and Nothing
An insightful discussion of the ancient and modern Christian condition called "acedia."
125 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1983
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August 12, 2023
I found this book at the retreat center where I spent 3 days alone. It was published in 1964 originally and again in 1983. A short book of only 125 pages but full of good words. I had never heard of Webbe and discovered that he was an Anglo-Catholic priest in Asheville, NC. He makes no reference to his priesthood in the book. I’ve discovered that he wrote another book about his journey into priesthood entitled, “Sawdust and Incense.” He died at age 91 in 2000, after 50 years of ministry.
Webbe walks us through the “stages” of maturing as a Christian in a way that rings so true that I found myself nodding my head most every paragraph. It’s clear, descriptive, and mystical at the same time. His experience as a priest and wisdom from other priests who mentored/taught him is not so “theological” that it can’t be understood. In fact, it’s often downright simple which is usually the way the best wisdom comes packaged.
He begins by describing the world condition which, in the 60’s, was already pretty bad. He states bluntly that the Gospel is un-American. Because in America, “we daily continue to breathe an atmosphere of human reliance and blunt materialism, despite our own loud outcry against our Chrome plated civilization, our secularism, our cult of comfort, our consequent flabbiness in all departments of life.” Chrome isn’t quite what it used to be but the rest is pretty accurate even today. He goes on to connect this material cultivation with the cultivation of fear. The more you have, the more you have to lose. And the more stuff you have, the less content you are.
Webbe uses some less used Christian language like mortification (suffering) and acedia (depression) but speaks about them in common language. You can tell he really has a pastor’s heart and he wrote this book as part of his ministry. His manner is gentle and probing, and his ideas are practical and striking.
He asks, “Has anyone ever seen an advertisement whose appeal was not based on at least one of the seven capital sins?” and one has to admit that that is true. These things in our lives that we pay little attention to are actually forming who we are. So if we want things, sinning is apparently part of the package.
His view of the church is refreshing and so different than so many think. He asserts that, “it could be dangerous for the church if everyone did tithe, because the church empowered has, historically, always fallen upon evil days just like the rest of us.” It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…(Mat.19:24)
He pointedly compares the natural man with the saint in his discussion of temptation. “The natural man knows almost nothing about temptation. He succumbs so readily to the unsophisticated wiles of the third-rate tempter who is practicing on him that he never comes in contact with anything really significant or subtle.” On the other hand, “the greatest saints universally testify that they are the most tempted, rather than the least tempted, of human beings – because - as we journey on the spiritual road we are penetrating ever more deeply into enemy territory.” This is why Jesus was tempted by the devil himself.
In a world of free will, there must be temptation, because without it there is no use for free will. If all bad things were removed, we would lose free will because there’s nothing to will, everything is good. That’s why there had to be that one tree they couldn’t eat from, to establish free will. The persistence of temptation and the increase of temptation, then, is not a sign of failure, but a sign of advancing in spiritual maturity. As one priest, Father Benson of Cowley, said when asked, “Brother, have you found peace?” “No, war!”
He goes on to talk about ‘Aridity,’ that we all have times of dryness, and that persevering through God’s silence “can finally lead us, after much pouting” to see that it is less important for us to see God than to realize that He sees us. “God will not compromise with our incessant desire for mediocrity.”
In the chapter on ‘Divisions,’ he describes the maturing Christian finding themselves with less and less in common with the world around them, and in that separation, the Christian sees the world more clearly and his/her heart breaks for it. “There is room in the broken heart - and only there - for all the sorrows of the world. The broken heart - and only it - is curative, redemptive of the wasteland around. It is the raw material necessary for a strange and important alchemy which has been described in the words “your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” (Jn.16:20) Turned into joy, not replaced by joy, i.e.. “blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.” (Mat.5:4)
Webbe believes, and I’ve know it to happen, that if one makes a decisions with honest and loving motive, even if it’s the wrong decision, it will turn out right. And this is the premise of his chapter on ‘Decisions.’ We are freed by love to go out and live joyfully, love indiscriminately, and bless abundantly. He claims that we will never canonize a gloomy saint because gloom and sanctity are contradictory.
The author’s chapter on ‘Mystical Experience’ is an interesting one wherein he, much like C.S. Lewis, tries to help us understand that mysticism is not some deep dark secret, but simply the experience of God. “Rightly understood, religious experience, which does include the enjoyment of transported ecstasy, also involves resisting temptation, fighting doubt, paying one's taxes, performing distasteful jobs, taking the day's bitter along with its better, holding one's tongue on the proper occasions, suffering fools gladly, and an infinite variety of similar things.” One is only seeing things more clearly what is always here. And the achievement of this sight, this thinning of the atmosphere, comes not from seeking God’s gifts or God’s comforts, but from seeking God Himself.
He goes on to instruct us through chapters on ‘Acedia,’ that “sickness that destroyeth at noonday,” (Ps.91:6) and the importance of continuing prayer when we least want to pray; ‘Come Up Higher’ in which he reminds us that God is not so much interested in our doing as our being and becoming; ‘Discouragement’ which often comes from our expecting God to bless what we want rather than wanting what God wants; ‘Evil’ which he compares to a weed, citing the example of a flower garden which also has weeds, if you cut it down, the weeds are what grows back. As a long-ago friend used to say at every AA meeting, “Temptation is never on vacation.”
Webbe ends with chapters entitled ‘Offering’ wherein he extols the benefits of giving all to Christ, and how “when a whole human life is placed in his hands the consequences are incredible.” And finally, ‘Death’ which every Christian should be familiar with because dying to self is critical to following Christ.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take the book home, so I found it online and ordered my own copy. I couldn’t find any more 1964 editions so I’m getting the 1983 book. That’s how much I enjoyed it. Need I say more?
Webbe walks us through the “stages” of maturing as a Christian in a way that rings so true that I found myself nodding my head most every paragraph. It’s clear, descriptive, and mystical at the same time. His experience as a priest and wisdom from other priests who mentored/taught him is not so “theological” that it can’t be understood. In fact, it’s often downright simple which is usually the way the best wisdom comes packaged.
He begins by describing the world condition which, in the 60’s, was already pretty bad. He states bluntly that the Gospel is un-American. Because in America, “we daily continue to breathe an atmosphere of human reliance and blunt materialism, despite our own loud outcry against our Chrome plated civilization, our secularism, our cult of comfort, our consequent flabbiness in all departments of life.” Chrome isn’t quite what it used to be but the rest is pretty accurate even today. He goes on to connect this material cultivation with the cultivation of fear. The more you have, the more you have to lose. And the more stuff you have, the less content you are.
Webbe uses some less used Christian language like mortification (suffering) and acedia (depression) but speaks about them in common language. You can tell he really has a pastor’s heart and he wrote this book as part of his ministry. His manner is gentle and probing, and his ideas are practical and striking.
He asks, “Has anyone ever seen an advertisement whose appeal was not based on at least one of the seven capital sins?” and one has to admit that that is true. These things in our lives that we pay little attention to are actually forming who we are. So if we want things, sinning is apparently part of the package.
His view of the church is refreshing and so different than so many think. He asserts that, “it could be dangerous for the church if everyone did tithe, because the church empowered has, historically, always fallen upon evil days just like the rest of us.” It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…(Mat.19:24)
He pointedly compares the natural man with the saint in his discussion of temptation. “The natural man knows almost nothing about temptation. He succumbs so readily to the unsophisticated wiles of the third-rate tempter who is practicing on him that he never comes in contact with anything really significant or subtle.” On the other hand, “the greatest saints universally testify that they are the most tempted, rather than the least tempted, of human beings – because - as we journey on the spiritual road we are penetrating ever more deeply into enemy territory.” This is why Jesus was tempted by the devil himself.
In a world of free will, there must be temptation, because without it there is no use for free will. If all bad things were removed, we would lose free will because there’s nothing to will, everything is good. That’s why there had to be that one tree they couldn’t eat from, to establish free will. The persistence of temptation and the increase of temptation, then, is not a sign of failure, but a sign of advancing in spiritual maturity. As one priest, Father Benson of Cowley, said when asked, “Brother, have you found peace?” “No, war!”
He goes on to talk about ‘Aridity,’ that we all have times of dryness, and that persevering through God’s silence “can finally lead us, after much pouting” to see that it is less important for us to see God than to realize that He sees us. “God will not compromise with our incessant desire for mediocrity.”
In the chapter on ‘Divisions,’ he describes the maturing Christian finding themselves with less and less in common with the world around them, and in that separation, the Christian sees the world more clearly and his/her heart breaks for it. “There is room in the broken heart - and only there - for all the sorrows of the world. The broken heart - and only it - is curative, redemptive of the wasteland around. It is the raw material necessary for a strange and important alchemy which has been described in the words “your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” (Jn.16:20) Turned into joy, not replaced by joy, i.e.. “blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.” (Mat.5:4)
Webbe believes, and I’ve know it to happen, that if one makes a decisions with honest and loving motive, even if it’s the wrong decision, it will turn out right. And this is the premise of his chapter on ‘Decisions.’ We are freed by love to go out and live joyfully, love indiscriminately, and bless abundantly. He claims that we will never canonize a gloomy saint because gloom and sanctity are contradictory.
The author’s chapter on ‘Mystical Experience’ is an interesting one wherein he, much like C.S. Lewis, tries to help us understand that mysticism is not some deep dark secret, but simply the experience of God. “Rightly understood, religious experience, which does include the enjoyment of transported ecstasy, also involves resisting temptation, fighting doubt, paying one's taxes, performing distasteful jobs, taking the day's bitter along with its better, holding one's tongue on the proper occasions, suffering fools gladly, and an infinite variety of similar things.” One is only seeing things more clearly what is always here. And the achievement of this sight, this thinning of the atmosphere, comes not from seeking God’s gifts or God’s comforts, but from seeking God Himself.
He goes on to instruct us through chapters on ‘Acedia,’ that “sickness that destroyeth at noonday,” (Ps.91:6) and the importance of continuing prayer when we least want to pray; ‘Come Up Higher’ in which he reminds us that God is not so much interested in our doing as our being and becoming; ‘Discouragement’ which often comes from our expecting God to bless what we want rather than wanting what God wants; ‘Evil’ which he compares to a weed, citing the example of a flower garden which also has weeds, if you cut it down, the weeds are what grows back. As a long-ago friend used to say at every AA meeting, “Temptation is never on vacation.”
Webbe ends with chapters entitled ‘Offering’ wherein he extols the benefits of giving all to Christ, and how “when a whole human life is placed in his hands the consequences are incredible.” And finally, ‘Death’ which every Christian should be familiar with because dying to self is critical to following Christ.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take the book home, so I found it online and ordered my own copy. I couldn’t find any more 1964 editions so I’m getting the 1983 book. That’s how much I enjoyed it. Need I say more?
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