Space Necessary for the Drops of Spring Rain
By Saint John Paul II
Rest your eyes for a moment
on the drops of fresh rain:
the greenness of spring leaves in this bright focus
weighing the drops down, not enough space for leaves
and though your eyes are full of wonder
you can’t, you cannot open your thought any farther.
You try in vain calming it like a child
woken from sleep: Don’t move away, dear thought,
from this bright focus of things,
remain in wonder!
Useless words, you feel. It is thought
that places you deep in the luminosity of things,
and you have to seek for them the ever-deepening space
in yourself.
In the first line of his poem, Saint John Paul II calls us to such a simple yet difficult mission: rest your eyes for a moment on the drops of fresh rain...
It feels like an echo of the renowned cliché: stop and smell the roses.
But then he goes on: don’t move away, dear thought... remain in wonder!
One of the greatest modern saints recognizes how difficult it is to remain in wonder!
Encounters with beauty can pull us from the bad (apathy) and into the good (God Himself). We see this most poignantly in the great mystics who literally met heaven on earth. Allowing ourselves an encounter, however, involves both the heart and mind, which can be a tricky thing.
It is thought that places you deep in the luminosity of things
A secular definition of contemplation describes it as an opportunity to “connect with their innermost thoughts and develop a deeper awareness of themselves.” This is even more true when we look at it in the light of the Catholic faith; when we take the time to see God and know Him, we gain this deeper awareness of ourselves. God wants us to find opportunities, even in the mundane moments, to sit with Him and grow by losing ourselves (but really finding ourselves) in prayerful thought.
Of course, in our human state, our thoughts are constantly pulled in different directions. Satan likes to keep us feeling busy and overwhelmed. I have felt guilty of this lately; I’ve gotten so accustomed to doing that I’ve forgotten to just be.
How many times have I stayed passive to beauty? Even when in front of Jesus himself during Mass or Adoration? God calls me deeper with Him there, as well as the every day moments.
God is in the laughter as my kids chase each other around our kitchen island.
God is in bare trees that surround our local playground.
God is in the mug carrying my matcha latte.
My challenge to myself (and to you, if you will join me) is not only to stop, but also to remain. Let us remain in wonder!
The Of Wood and Word Shop is now open!
Thank you to everyone’s support and patience as I’ve undergone many transitions these last few months. I’m so excited to be settled and back in business, so grab your copy of Fools for Heaven today!
I’m hosting this giveaway on Instagram (@ofwoodandword) but you can also enter it through this newsletter! Share this article with a friend and email me a screenshot for proof. That will give you FIVE entries in this giveaway :) Instagram friends, you can do this in addition to any social media entries!
Giveaway starts now and will end Wednesday, February 7th at 11:59 pm CT. The winner will be notified either via Instagram messages or email.
As many of you know, I am the crowdfunding instructor for the Fiat Self-Publishing Academy. It has been an absolute joy to watch fellow author Elise Daniel launch her debut children’s book on Kickstarter! It’s a delightful story about a greedy leprechaun who discovers God’s riches through an encounter with Ireland’s most popular saint. If you would like to preorder the book, consider supporting it through Kickstarter today (click the photo for a link to the campaign).
Happy reading!
Through Christ,
Steph Petters