"They are more than themselves and when the wonder grows in me I am more than myself. Whenever I am conscious of this more than ourselves I remember the old man in the garden at home, looking at the butterflies in the buddleia tree, and how the butterflies seem to shine on his face, or something in him shone on the butterflies, I didn't know which. I may have imagined the light but I didn't imagine the more than ourselves. That's real enough, and when I am conscious of it my wonder and gratitude clap hands together and what is caught up from me is more then either. If any words come to me then they are those of the old man's second prayer, 'Thee I adore.' "
Elizabeth Goudge, The Scent of Water
Joining Emily today
17 comments:
amen.
the thing is he is always there...it is us that have to get tuned into his pressence...
That was a beutiful writing ,Jodi.
this really blessed me, because it made me stop and think. Those words jumped into my heart and soul and let me see with my spirit the times past. I feel now I will remember your words, because they have become mine now...thank you for that gift. God is using you on your blog....yeah Lord!!!
This is beautiful -- "feeling like I could run forever". How lovely to find God in seemingly ordinary moments.
Sometimes I think we forget how near he is... maybe it takes a childlike heart to realize it. Beautifully written.
we get caught up in everything going on around us sometimes we forget He's with us in the quiet, happy, sad, exciting, chaotic, loud, still, and crazy moments we have! I enjoyed your post!
{tara}
What's wonderful about reading your comments is the unity, those "what, you too?", brotherhood-of-man moments. How awesome is God!
I love that part of The Scent of Water and the three prayers of the old man........."Thee I adore......Lord, Have Mercy....Into Thy Hands......."
I remember that feeling as a child, too... being lovingly watched over. You describe it so beautifully - it reminds me of something C.S. Lewis might say.
This post reminds me of when I was very young. I didn't grow up in a church growing family but as a child, I would sense the Presence of God and His calling me to be His.
Thankfully, I listened. Great post. :)
oh, if you could know how i needed this, this morning. thank you dear jodi. i love the new look here.
ps. i just ordered the book, the scent of water, through my library. xo
That's the trick of it, isn't it...keeping our eyes open. I fail to do that too often...
i love this post, jodi (happy new year, by the way!).
i love the exactness of a memory to say, this is when i KNEW. i struggle, sometimes, with that knowing, and yet have pictures squirreld away and memories to hold on to that remind me... He is here. and Loves.
Jodi, I stopped by to thank you for the lovely comment and found myself inspired to dig through our boxes to find my copy of The Scent of Water. It is my favorite of Elizabeth Goudge's books. When I first read it I copied those three prayers upon a note card and have carried with me since.
"Lord have mercy"
"Thee I adore"
"Unto Thy hands"
What more could you need?
BTW I adore visiting your site.
Morisot - thank you very much!
oh yes.
perfect.
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