Who swooped in like a hawk
and won your heart like a prize,
then dropped it from a mile high,
leaving you shattered
to fend for yourself?
Who took you by the hand and led you
on this descent
into the depths of your humanity
that you never really wanted to explore …
Was it a death or a betrayal,
an illness?
a dream that challenged you to your core?
Did you discover something pure inside yourself,
an empathy strong enough to take the journey
with another by choice?
Who inspired you to carry their burden as your own?
Who taught you to abandon the superficial
for an adventure
through the dense jungle of your soul?
Have you found a way to be grateful yet?
for the sorrow that carved grand canyons into you …
for the darkness that held you hostage
until you discovered the eternal wellspring of Light?
Do you realize the gift you’ve been given?
the gift you have become?
The world needs more Radiant Love,
more sunlight shining in our deepest fault lines,
more grace rising up from broken depths
to the surface, where we can see it for ourselves
and hope.
“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”
-Saint Augustine
Philipians 2: 5-8
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Prayer works. Prayer is worthwhile. Prayer is the passion of my life because as Padre Pio said “it is the key that unlocks the heart of God.” But in case you haven’t figured it out yet, prayer is far from a magic wand. God is not a candy dispenser, giving us what we want exactly when we want it.
In my experience, God is more like a sherpa leading us on a great adventurous, treacherous, challenging mountain climb up mount everest.
In spite of what pop culture has you believe, a life of faith was was never meant to be easy.
Peter 4:13-14 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
But life IS meant to be glorious. When we persevere in faith and accept whatever cross we’re asked to bear and dig deep for unity with God through times of darkness and light, cultivating peace, joy, gentleness, self control and all the fruits of the spirit that the world is starving for, we find exquisite interior freedom more precious than gold.
Romans 8: 17-18 “And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.”
What trial are you going through right now? Have you been able to see God in the depths of your sorrow? Have you learned to see these trials as a gift?
Lord give us the grace to persevere in faith through our times of heartache and sorrow. Help us to find your glory in our deepest wounds, like St. Augustine did. Give us the grace to share that glory with others, helping to light their path ever deeper into the mystery of Your presence with us here on earth. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 10/2/2019