SYMBOLS AND PRESENCE

Madeleine L’Engle (1918-2007) wrote, “When we are self-emptied enough to make room for this love, it is not as a result of our own moral rectitude or willpower. But it is sometimes given to us, this lovely emptiness, and then the Holy Spirit can fill it, with prayer, or music, or a poem, or a story. Or, sometimes, it goes beyond all these to the greatest gift of all, being filled with that which is beyond all symbols, with God’s Presence. And then we are far more than when we are filled with self-probing, self-centeredness, or self-righteousness.”

It is sometimes quite easy and comfortable to be filled with good things, valuable things and creative things and think they are enough. However, these things should point us to the greater gift: The Presence of God. And, many times it takes these forerunners to get us to the main thing.

“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Jesus