Oct
16
Patient Trust
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ
Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability---and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually--let them grow,
Let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability---and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually--let them grow,
Let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.
I've learned so much these past two or three years about transition, not only in my own life but walking alongside others starting new careers, starting new marriages and families, moving from one place to another, losing things they found very dear.
Being "settled" is so important to me, but I've learned that it's probably not something I'll have on this side of heaven if I'm living my life the way I should be. At least "settled" in the traditional sense.
I guess that's the point anyway-- that being settled is something that happens in the heart and for me, it has to do with resting in a Heavenly Father who never changes. With all else uncertain, I am so glad to have the gift of faith.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
I love this post:)