“This language is expressed in a thousand motions of our will, in the clear insights of our minds, in the affections of our heart, in our commitment to lead a virtuous life, in goodness, happiness and peace.” (Saint Josemaria, “Christ is passing by”, 13).
I have a dear friend who asked me to pray to the Holy Spirit to guide her in a very important decision she was making.
She explained the situation to me, and I understood the question she was being asked and I understood the implications of the decision she was going to make. And then – after listening to her dilemma I understood very very clearly what was required of her… And the decision that she was struggling with seemed to me not to be a decision worthy of any effort or attention at all. In fact the decision seemed so clear to me that it did not even seem likely that a discussion should have been had about the issue at all and instead, there was – in my mind – only one clear course or action to be had and everything else was a waste of time…
And yet – even understanding the way that I firmly believed the decision was to go – I made sure that I did not TELL my friend what she should decide, rather I discussed the issue from a variety of different angles… To allow her the FREEDOM to make her own decision…
And I have been reflecting on that today because it seems to me that God has made me His child, which means that I spend my life seeking to make my own decisions using my own free will. And how God must watch me and guide me – without forcing my decisions…
And how much I wish He would just enslave me and make my decisions for me. John Donne of the seventeenth century wrote a sonnet that begged God to enslave him to God’s Will as a way of ensuring that he would go to Heaven, because he understood that it is God’s Will and NOT his own that leads to salvation…
Saint Josemaria wrote in “The Forge” at 1, “We are children of God, bearers of the only flame that can light up the paths of the earth for souls, of the only brightness which can never be darkened, dimmed or overshadowed. The Lord uses us as torches, to make that light shine out. Much depends on us; if we respond many people will remain in darkness no longer but will walk instead along paths that lead to eternal life.”
Because in understanding that I am a child of God I also understand that I am of God’s Race. And being of that “race” I also know that I should speak the same language of my Father and express the same actions and live in the same culture and within the same environment. “This language is expressed in a thousand motions of our will, in the clear insights of our minds, in the affections of our heart, in our commitment to lead a virtuous life, in goodness, happiness and peace.” (Saint Josemaria, “Christ is passing by”, 13).
And I think about that today as I make my decisions. For if only God would just make them for me – enslaving me – then I would know that I am a mere slave of God… And that would make me so filled with joy…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.