For Tuesday the Lenten reading in Malcolm Guite’s, The Word in the Wilderness , was an excerpt from SatireIII, by John Donne:
On a huge hill,Cragged and steep, Truth stands, and he that willReach her, about must and about must go,And what the hill’s suddenness resists, win so.
Guite explains that some things are too huge, too important to approach directly. He, and Donne, compare our spiritual life and search for truth to ascending a mountain via switchbacks.
We’ve encountered switchbacks quite often in our mountain hikes. Sometimes the ascent is gradual and the trail seems to meander gently. If you are still within the tree line, the path behind and ahead may be unseeable. It’s easy to lose focus on this type of trail because there aren’t any reference points to judge how far you’ve come or have to go.
Other trails climb such a steep slope that the switchbacks occur closely packed. I can recall hiking a trail where I could reach out my arms and play switchback tag with the kiddos, the loops of the switchback were that close. That trail was particularly difficult as it felt like we were slogging along and getting no where. In reality every step was taking us closer to our destination. When we finally made it to the top and stopped for lunch our spirits were renewed not only by our food but by a bull moose and family of deer that came to share the lake with us. If we had given up and turned around we would have missed a beautiful memory.
Sometimes it can feel like we are going nowhere on our spiritual journey. Thankfully, it is the dark times, the wilderness times that draw us closer to God. Don’t lose heart, God is with you and working within you always. This is especially true when we feel it the least. When you least expect it you will break through, there will be a clearing in the trees and God’s love will pour in bathing your soul and dazzling your heart!
Remember, faith works!
I sure hope so. Countless pilgrims along the way have said so but sometimes it is so hard to see. Sometimes I feel like Thomas who couldn’t believe until he touched Jesus’ wounds himself. Sometimes I feel like the disciple who said “To whom else would we go”. Whatever I feel in my lack of faith at any time, I know there is no alternative. I just have to keep plodding along. I remember a story about Mother Teresa who went through a dark spell. She said it felt like her fellow nuns held her belief for her till she could hold it again. Even the “big” Christians go through the dark spells and the switchbacks on the path. It does give me hope. Thanks for the great story.
Yes, sometimes it gets pretty dark and all we can do is just stubbornly refuse to let go of God. Knowing that heroes of the faith Teresa have struggled also helps m to keep things in perspective. It also gives me hope. Hang in there, prayers for you going out!!!!
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