Lectio
“God’s self-communication to us is truly a matter of grace, something freely given, not to be taken for granted. For it is only because God has drawn near and given himself to us that we have the possibility of turning in prayer to him.”
— Karen Kilby, Karl Rahner: A Brief Introduction
Meditatio
The Word of God presents itself to us, not all at once, but in little pieces — fleeting glimpses — like breadcrumbs of truth on the rocky, narrow mountain path leading deep into the unfamiliar forest of eternal love.
In any given moment, we have the freedom to choose to follow these breadcrumbs of truth, to ignore them at risk of getting lost in the woods of worldly desires and distractions, or to reject them altogether, trying to make our own way through the thorny brush and rocky pitfalls of pride, vanity, and self-will that will inevitably lead to our ruin.
As we walk along the path, however, if that is the course we have chosen, we come to discover that these breadcrumbs of truth exist not just before us — in Scripture, people, and whatever other sources of light God places at our feet — but also within us. “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). It is the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12) that beckons us to continue, to let go of the false idols we cling to, and to go deeper and deeper and deeper.
God, as it turns out, speaks to us from within and without, calling us from all directions, drawing us further and further into relationship, giving everything of himself to us, and inviting us to do the same, until our very lives become prayer, until every moment is a divine dance of call-and-response between creator and creation, source and subject, lover and beloved.
And all of this in spite of ourselves. In spite of the choices we make to follow the world or to go our own way. In spite of our rejection of this precious gift of life and love.
But he never stops calling. He never stops showing his face to us. “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). He never stops leaving his breadcrumbs of truth before our feet and within our hearts, to draw us nearer to him. And he will never stop until we are reunited on the path of love, forever.
Oratio
Fearful but faithful
you draw me out
onto the path
into the darkness
the eternal unknown
led by a flickering flame
hoping
trusting
believing
your Word
every breath
that fills my chest
a reminder
that I am not alone
every step
that securely lands
a reminder
that I am loved
Contemplatio
Where in your life is God leaving breadcrumbs of truth — and what would it mean to follow them a little further today?
Related Scripture
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path… give me life, O Lord, according to your word.” — Psalm 119:105-107
For Further Reading
you enjoyed this post, you may also like He Loved Us First: God’s Prevenient Love and the Welcome That Never Ends, which explores the same divine initiative at the heart of this piece — the Love that has been drawing us home since before we knew we were lost.
Robert Van Valkenburgh
Grappling With Divinity
Wrestling With God.
Returning To Love.
grapplingwithdivinity.com
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