faith fridays: he who walks with giant’s steps

  

I’ve just started reading Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence by Fr. J.P. de Caussade, S.J.  The book is a translation, from the original French text, undertaken in 1959. The writings themselves have been around much longer.

Because the content is so rich, every paragraph packed with meaning, I’m consuming this book in small bites, and as I go, I hope to share some of my thoughts with you all on Fridays.

Here’s a little sampling from page 22:

“The life of faith is nothing else than a continual pursuit of God through everything that disguises, misrepresents and, so to speak, destroys and annihilates him…

“Hasten then always, faithful souls, happy and tireless after your beloved Spouse who walks with giant’s steps from one end of the heavens to the other; nothing is hidden from his sight. He walks over the tiniest blades of grass as well as over cedars. He passes over grains of sand as well as over mountains. Wherever you can step, he has passed, and in order to find him wherever you may be, you have but to pursue him incessantly.”

“How delightful the peace one enjoys when one has learned by faith to see God in this way through all creatures as through a transparent veil! Darkness becomes light and bitterness sweet. Faith by showing us the truth of things changes their ugliness into beauty and their malice into goodness: faith is the mother of gentleness, confidence and joy; she can have only tenderness and compassion towards her enemies who enrich her so greatly at their own cost.”

How I love these words! I love the imagery of God as a giant walking over the small earth, as well as His light-footed trek among the smallest blades of grass. First off, to picture God’s largeness and the fact that He still wishes to be among us…that’s just an amazing thought. No matter how small we may be and feel, we are not unimportant to our Creator.

I have been feeling this tenderness with which God deals with us and our concerns on the earth lately. Since the passing of my friend Roberta last week, some small miracles have taken place, and in them, I have recognized the caring face of God. As a witness to this, I can’t help but be in awe all over again at His great love and compassion for His children in their suffering.

I also love the final paragraph, that reality that in and through faith, everything is turned upside down. Death turns into life. Sadness becomes a cause for hope and joy. And evil cannot triumph, even when it appears as if it’s having its way.

Oh, what a beautiful faith we have, that the Giant of all Giants would stoop down and stroke our hair, look into our eyes, and say, “See how much I love you?”

Q4U: How has God said “I love you!” to you this week?