I ran across a quote this week in C.S. Lewis’ writings: “God wants to give us something but cannot because our hands are full and there is no where for him to put it” (St. Augustine of Hippo).
As we look to our summer retreat, perhaps we would do well to repeat Augustine’s ancient words to ourselves and see if there is any truth in them for us. Our hands certainly are full in Northern Virginia, and it’s easy to see the retreat as one more thing, one more event on an already crowded calendar. If this retreat is just one more thing to “do” then certainly none of us have time for it….our hands or plates, are simply too full.
Lewis suggested that we often view God as an airman regards his parachute. It’s there for emergencies, but he hopes he will never have to use it. That analogy fits all too well with the busy lives most of us lead. We know God is there for us but he does not really expect we will call on him other than in extreme emergencies.
Yet God made us, so he has some insider information about what we need. In a way, it’s a strange truth that he as the creator knows, but we (the created) often do not see ourselves. He knows we will not seek him as long as he leaves us any other resort where happiness can plausibly be found. As Lewis puts it, “As long as what we call ‘our own life’ remains rewarding and agreeable, we won’t surrender to him. So God knows he must, at times, make our own lives less agreeable to us and take away any of those false sources of happiness.”
“It is here,” Lewis continues, “that God and his providence seems most cruel. Yet reality is that this stooping down of the most high to take interest in our true happiness is perhaps the most remarkable and deserving of praise.”
Is Augustine correct? Are my hands too full to accept what God has to give me? God wants our attention and, as Lewis suggests, he will eventually get it by removing things we have come to depend on. If that is the case, then this retreat seems to me an exceptionally kind way of God asking for our attention. He asks us to take a day and go and rest and reflect together. In a way it’s not much to ask… but then again, to ask for one of my busy weekends…it’s not very easy either.
Mark
As we look to our summer retreat, perhaps we would do well to repeat Augustine’s ancient words to ourselves and see if there is any truth in them for us. Our hands certainly are full in Northern Virginia, and it’s easy to see the retreat as one more thing, one more event on an already crowded calendar. If this retreat is just one more thing to “do” then certainly none of us have time for it….our hands or plates, are simply too full.
Lewis suggested that we often view God as an airman regards his parachute. It’s there for emergencies, but he hopes he will never have to use it. That analogy fits all too well with the busy lives most of us lead. We know God is there for us but he does not really expect we will call on him other than in extreme emergencies.
Yet God made us, so he has some insider information about what we need. In a way, it’s a strange truth that he as the creator knows, but we (the created) often do not see ourselves. He knows we will not seek him as long as he leaves us any other resort where happiness can plausibly be found. As Lewis puts it, “As long as what we call ‘our own life’ remains rewarding and agreeable, we won’t surrender to him. So God knows he must, at times, make our own lives less agreeable to us and take away any of those false sources of happiness.”
“It is here,” Lewis continues, “that God and his providence seems most cruel. Yet reality is that this stooping down of the most high to take interest in our true happiness is perhaps the most remarkable and deserving of praise.”
Is Augustine correct? Are my hands too full to accept what God has to give me? God wants our attention and, as Lewis suggests, he will eventually get it by removing things we have come to depend on. If that is the case, then this retreat seems to me an exceptionally kind way of God asking for our attention. He asks us to take a day and go and rest and reflect together. In a way it’s not much to ask… but then again, to ask for one of my busy weekends…it’s not very easy either.
Mark
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