Into your Hands... Abandonment

We have been looking at Charles de Foucauld’s “Prayer of Abandonment.” Foucauld prays to Abandon our life into the hands of God. When we are able to freely say, “I am ready for all…” we gain much more than we think we will lose. Opening our heart and soul to God’s will brings joy. Self-offering to God, freely and with love brings us a return of love.

“Into your hands I commend my soul”-Foucauld’s words echo Jesus’ cry of total abandonment on the Cross (Luke 23:46), which is in turn a reference to Psalm 31:5. The Psalm continues, “Into your hand I commit my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of Truth.” Letting go into God’s care is not giving up. It is embracing and accepting the redeeming love from God. Foucauld knows that yielding the soul to God is an act of love and is received by Love and rewarded in Love.

How often do we keep our hearts shielded from love of all kinds, too afraid of being hurt to freely abandon our souls? When first ‘in love’ we are willing and able to throw open the doors of our hearts. But the little hurts can sneak in and gradually we start to push the door closed. With each little perceived slight, we push the door a little more tightly shut, until it is latched.

The same thing happens in our relationship with God. Children are open to seeing God and welcoming God in. Then we start wanting ‘our way’ and when things don’t go the way we want, we can get angry or frustrated with God and shut the door.

The famous painting of Jesus at the door is symbolic of what God does. God asks for us to open the door so he can come in. God’s love is so great that God will not batter down the door. God waits for our invitation.

We recently returned from a trip to the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest with some of the grandchildren. One sight that inspired me was the ‘Agate Bridge’ in the Petrified Forest. This petrified log across an arroyo was been reinforced underneath with concrete. I found it symbolic of what God’s love does. Like the petrified log, we have cracks and are in danger of crashing into the arroyo. God’s love supports and reinforces us so we don’t disintegrate.

Foucauld says “I offer [my soul] to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord.” Can I see God through the eyes of a child again and open the door to let God in so that God’s Love can sweep out the staleness of hurts and anger? Do you feel God’s love strengthening and under-girding your life?