MEASUREMENTS
On a recent
weekend in upper New York State, a forester and a few interested parties
attempted to measure the size of an ancient Sycamore Tree. The tree is
estimated to be about 200 years old.
Unfortunately the only way to get an accurate measure is to cut the tree
down and count its rings, which would be ridiculous. Finally, after hours climbing the immense
branches and measuring their girth and width for hours, they still didn’t have
what could be called a true measure.
They finally gave us and declared the tree to be
immeasurable. Someday they will figure
out how to take that measurement but other things really are immeasurable: a
mother’s love, the depth of grief, or the urge to self-preservation.
Beyond
those things is the love of God. It is immeasurable, unfathomable and undeniable. Often though, our prayers reflect what seems
to be doubt that God hears us. We are so
wrapped up in our own world worrying about everything, questioning everything,
and doubting the future that we fail to embrace that knowledge. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life
and have it more abundantly.” (Jn10: 10) It
was reported at the Synod on the Family in Rome that the Holy Father is the
happiest person there, serene in his absolute trust in the power of the Holy
Spirit. That is what it means to have
life and have it more abundantly.
When the
life we live overwhelms us God seems so remote.
The knowledge that God is anything but remote has sustained people
through the most harrowing events but everyone has to learn it for him or
herself. The 46th Psalm advises: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Start there.
To be truly still in this century of constant distraction disguised as
communication is a challenge. We begin by simply thinking about God. How we view God, what we expect from God,
what we are willing to do to bring ourselves closer to Him. Acknowledge that God
understands us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He speaks to us in our own words. His presence can be felt. We must immerse ourselves into it to find the
full measure of that peace we so desperately seek.
With love,
Carol Lemelin, OPA
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