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Drawing from God's Abundance |
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| A prayer was suggested to me through Fr.
Peter Van Breeman who gave a retreat in Reno recently: "Jesus,
live in my heart until your feelings are my feelings too." How
simple, yet how profound. There is a richness and depth in this
prayer that expresses the thirst of one's heart for God. I find it
a particular treasure of our Catholic faith to have a multitude of
written prayers in Scripture as well as by many saints to help put in
words the longing and praises of the heart.
There's one temptation I've experienced in using this prayer. In the back of my very human mind there lurks a certain cynicism related to just how long it might take for Christ's feelings to become my feelings. This is because I know my failings pretty well. I do have to admit, however, that I see some hint of this prayer being answered in my life. Yet how far it seems I have to go. I argue with this skepticism and say, "Don't forget that this
isn't all up to you. Christ's mercy and power are at work within
you." With this I remember a very special retreat during
which I had a dream. Much healing took place in that dream, and
when I awoke, my chronic health problem had ceased to be. To me it
was a miracle. How amazing that I had forgotten this
"abundance of God." |
After returning home, he wanted to do
something for those who had helped him. He invited the Bedouins to
Paris for a visit. They were amazed and dazzled by city life and
modern technology. He also took them to Switzerland where the Alps
also thrilled them. But what lifted them to awe and wonder was a
high waterfall. They sat down and watched. Hours later they
were still watching. Antoine suggested it was time to go, but the
Bedouins replied, "It would not be respectful to leave until the
water stops falling." Coming from their home which was so dry
and water so scarce, they couldn't imagine a continuous stream of water.
Antoine explained that this waterfall had been in existence over 1000
years. Absolutely stunned, the Bedouins reluctantly got up to
leave.
Christ's willingness and ability to transform our hearts is like the abundance the Bedouins recognized in the waterfall. If you are feeling about "a quart low" on faith to believe that God's abundance is there for you, consider talking with a Spiritual Director who can help you rediscover the movements of the Spirit within your soul. Spiritual Direction helps bring an awareness of God's abundance into all aspects of daily life. Nancy Pfaff, MA, gives spiritual direction, retreats and workshops in the Northern Nevada Diocese. For more information, call (775) 560-3030. |
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