All will be well, but how?
At times like these, with news of natural disasters and the cruelty of man towards man, when violence seems to be in every breath and disunity the “order of the day”, it might be easy to give in to despair and depression.
But when we pay attention, when we are truly awake, there is still another story to tell, another viewpoint to see. And it is a far more hopeful one which has the power to rekindle joy.
In the Daily Dig from Plough today came these words from Julian of Norwich, a mystic of 13th century England:
Julian of Norwich
…deeds are done which appear so evil to us and people suffer such terrible evils that it does not seem as though any good will ever come of them; and we consider this, sorrowing and grieving over it so that we cannot find peace in the blessed contemplation of God as we should do; and this is why: our reasoning powers are so blind now, so humble and so simple, that we cannot know the high, marvelous wisdom, the might and the goodness of the Holy Trinity. And this is what he means where he says, “You shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well”, as if he said, “Pay attention to this now, faithfully and confidently, and at the end of time you will truly see it in the fullness of joy.
Source: Revelations of Divine Love
Echoing through 8 centuries, these words are as real to us today as they were then.
Can we pay attention, be awake, and see? Can we help each other to find joy and hope in the knowledge that somehow all will be well?