Sprouts of Faith

On our last trip north, we engaged in a weekend of yard work, preparing our hearts and our land for the seasonal closing of Rose Cottage. At one point, I encountered the hydrangeas my sister planted last autumn, the very writing that kicked off these spiritual notes one year ago. The hydrangeas are beautiful and flourishing! I paused, then, returning to the reflection on the potential in empty spaces, wondering about new sprouts of faith.

Within the rich soil of grace, seeds of faith will grow and blossom if we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. As Fr. Joseph Langford, M.C. once wrote, “Our personal desert may have its oases now and then, but we rarely make the effort to stop our rush of thought and our fevered activity to take the time to drink slowly, deeply, and fully. It is only this deep exercise of faith that can bring our desert into bloom and open our empty hearts to the fire of the Holy Spirit.”

But how - in this fast paced, demanding world - can we slow down long enough to engage in this experience of faith, to drink in the Living Water, deeply and fully? To encounter the abundance of God’s blessings, we do not need to study God more. We must make more time to be with God, to notice God’s goodness in all things. We only need to listen deeply, hearing His encouragement in the gift of the autumn crocus, to stay awake to His whispers of wisdom - as the world comes to rest at the twilight hour - to follow His guidance in scripture, to bask in His love at adoration.

The personal desert Fr. Langford is talking about comes in many forms. We have to ask, ‘Have I become lukewarm in my prayer efforts? Have I begun to take the greatness of God for granted, or replaced my sacred prayer time with something superficial - something the world calls important, but really has no meaning, whatsoever, in the last analysis?’ We need a personal revival of faith.

To begin growing more sprouts of faith, I would like to offer a three-step prayer process, simple and powerful:

1) Quiet yourself, recognizing you are in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Gently close your eyes and silently pray the words, “Come Holy Spirit.” 2) Wait for the Holy Spirit to move your heart to praise, adoration or intercessory prayer. In these sacred moments, you will recognize Jesus is Lord. You might feel a sudden urge to listen to a particular song of praise, such as “Goodness of God,” by Bethel Music, or the “Ave Maria,” by Josh Groban. Surrender to this desire. You might also feel a deep urge to visit an adoration chapel, or to pray for a loved one, the condition of the world, something you are struggling with, or any number of things. Respond to this desire. 3) Close with a heartfelt prayer of thankfulness.

A heart awakened is a heart that has new sprouts of faith! Suddenly, as St. Ignatius also discovered, God’s goodness is in everything. Yes, everything. There He is when you are sick, sending someone to bring you hot tea. There He is when you are confused, opening the clouds of confusion, setting straight the way. There He is, stirring your heart with lines from an inspiring book. There He is, giving you courage when you are frightened. There He is in the services you offer to others. There He is in war, bringing comfort, shelter, and aid to some, hope to the helpless, and – to others - welcoming them home into the deep folds of His eternal and youthful joy.

Yes, we are all in need of a personal revival, an awakening to God’s loving omnipresence.

“If the great truths of Faith are not “good news” for us, how will we witness their goodness for others?” - Fr. Langford, M.C.

Due to some work, time, and attention - the once empty soil along the front of the cottage now holds hydrangeas with strong roots and beautiful blossoms. May we all empty our interior and exterior lives of needless stuff, experiencing a personal and spiritual revival. Only then will faith grow and bring our desert into bloom. Only then will grace open our empty hearts to the fire of the Holy Spirit.

“I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants…and they shall spring up like grass among waters,

like willows by flowing streams” (Is 44:3-4).

Prayer: God of Eternal Goodness, grant me the grace to experience new sprouts of faith every day. Nurture my faith with Your Living Water, so I can witness the good news of your love to others.