The Bird in the Hand
This meditation is densely packed with metaphors that can help us through our "wilderness experiences" by encouraging us to keep going even when we don't seem to see any results of our efforts. I think it might be useful for us as we pass the halfway point of our Lenten journey together.
The bird in the hand….
We believe that we are energized by
the bird in the hand….
we are, in fact, energized much more by
the bird in the bush.
God's people are led forward by promises.
It is promises, with all their daring and risk,
that empower the hearts of people.
God's people are called through
the enticement of the call itself,
much more than through
the direct vision of God's face,
the certitude of God's answers, or
the unfailing presence of God's joy.
"The Lord is our Justice" not by fulfilling us,
but by calling us from where we are.
God restores us not by making it happen,
but by promising us that it will.
God tells us who we are
by telling us who we are to become.
Somehow that is enough. It works!
At least it works for those
who can learn how to believe:
"Blest is she who believed that
the promises made to her would be fulfilled."
All wishful thinking to the contrary,
it is not fulfillment
that drives and calls and enriches mankind,
but we are undoubtedly called forth
by the mystery of what could-yet-be.
It is dreams that drive us and
hopes that make us happen,
and so God has given himself to us
in a way that we could receive him
and also benefit from him,
even though we fail
to see it as a gift or
to praise him for the giving.
After all,
they are just promises.
My favorite part is "it is not fulfillment that drives and calls and enriches mankind, but we are undoubtedly called forth by the mystery of what could-yet-be." This is a real joyous and eager entrance into "God's country" -- the mystery of the unknown future. Thinking of Lent as a time of promise from God sheds more welcome light on the holy season, giving us yet another way of looking at Lent.
I'd love to hear your response to the passage. Did you find one phrase or sentence speaking particularly to you?
Thank you. You are right. I sense a real and constant connection to eternity in God’s love — a fulfilled promise every minute.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDelete(Thanks for leaving your name.)I've spent most of my life teaching high school boys. Maybe that's why I was struck by the idea that "It is dreams that drive us and hopes that make us happen," since these kids rely so much on their dreams and their hopes to keep them going. They remind me every day that I, too, am more about "what-I-could-be" than "what-I-am."
I believe that the quote is from Fr Richard Rohr, OFM. I was able to find the following:
ReplyDeleteRichard Rohr's Daily Reflection
"The Promise of God"
Our age has come to expect satisfaction. We have grown up in an absolutely unique period when having and possessing and accomplishing have been real options. We have the illusion of fulfillment and an even more dangerous illusion that we have a right to expect fulfillment- and fulfillment now- as long as we are clever enough, quick enough and pray or work hard enough for our goals. We want to be energized by the bird in the hand; but the word of God and the history of those who have struggled with that word would seem to tell us that we are, in fact, energized much more by the bird in the bush. God’s people are led forward by promises. Promises, with all their daring and risk, empower the hearts of people. God’s people are called through the enticement of the call itself, much more than through the direct vision of God’s joy. The Lord is “Our Justice” not by fulfilling us but by calling us from where we are. God restores us not by making it happen but by promising us that it will. God tells us who we are by telling us who we are to become. Somehow that is enough. It works! At least it works for those who can learn how to believe: “Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 1:45).
I am sure that it was just refined into what you have in the post and later published that way.
The part that grabs me in the piece is this "we are undoubtedly called forth by the mystery of what could-yet-be." The future is full of mystery, and there is always the possibility of something really great happening. So I persevere on, hoping to one day enjoy the promises.
Wiz
Philly, PA