(You’ve seen this before. But it still speaks).
Something happened a few years back at a conference I was attending. The subject was “vocation” and how we find God’s way and plan for our life. A young priest presented an image that surprised and delighted all of us. He gave us a picture of how life gets pieced together in partnership with God.
He used this image. See what you think.
Picture you’re weaving a cloth with various shuttles and several colored yarns attached to them. The cloth is suspended over your head much like an umbrella. The garment you’re weaving is of course “your life”. But remember, you can only see it from underneath. The finished cloth can only be seen from above.
As you view your cloth from the bottom you see several openings which could receive your shuttle. So seeing the pattern you’ve already begun, you choose an opening that seems to best add to your plan. You push the shuttle through and wait for its return.
Meanwhile God is there above to receive your choice. He takes his time in returning the shuttle. He’s been waiting for you to make your choice since He’s partnering with you as coweaver! Finally He drops the shuttle back down to you but not exactly where you thought He would. It’s “over there”.
“Oh,” we think. “That changes things. Now what? Where do I send my shuttle back to Him?”
And up and down the shuttle of life goes. Each time we make the best judgment we can about life’s choices . . . Is this the person I should marry? Do I work or stay home with the children? Do I apply for the new opening at work? Where do we send the children to school? How do I handle this new problem? Etc.
So you think about things; maybe talk things over with family or friend. Hopefully you’ll say a prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide you.
But then comes the moment of decision (“Mom, dad, I’ve decided to go into the military.”) and with that you’ve sent the shuttle up through the cloth of your life. What will God send back? We’ll see . . .
Get the picture? It’s really a nice meditation on the partnership God has with us in guiding us through our lives.
Two points seem critical to me in this process.
1. When we ponder where to send up our choices (the shuttle) there needs to be some sort of prayer. “Lord guide me, enlighten me. Show me your will. I give it to you.” Then . . . do your best. God will guide this whole process. He loves you!
2. When God drops the shuttle back down to you (in other words, when life gives its unforeseen events) we can receive this as God’s answer, whatever it might be. This is an act of faith in its rawest form. Your feelings may not be brimming with confidence. That’s okay. Faith helps us submit. “I don’t get it Lord but I trust in you.”
Remember, we only see our life from below. God, our co weaver, sees the big picture. God knows stuff about your life that you don’t. Do you trust Him to help you create the tapestry of your life?
God’s Providence (His guiding grace) extends even to our bad choices (decisions made thoughtlessly or in emotional turmoil). God can work with our mistakes if we turn things over to Him.
God is waiting for your next prayer as together you weave the pattern of your life.
Bless you. Happy Summer still.
Fr. Tim
PS. Partner with God. Make your garment breathtaking!
