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FRIDAY THOUGHT 11/7/08

God’s Embrace
 
I know a boy who, when he would become out-of-control distraught, his grandmother would wrap her arms around him and hold him as tightly as she could until he settled down and regained his gentle composure.  I also recall marveling several years ago as a priest (Father Patrick Raymond at Grace Church in Madison, Wisconsin) came out before the service, wrapped his arms around an agitated homeless man in the pews, held him close (the man must have smelled like the gutter), and whispered in his ear until the man calmed down.  
 
I know the feeling.  God has done the same with me many times, wrapping His love around me to calm the anger, pain, frustration, fear and, yes, even the spitting-mad fury that can overtake me at times.  And when I just let it go, let myself become still, ah, in those moments I would sometimes understand the great and wondrous peace that is beyond understanding.  God’s embrace is a powerful embrace. 
 
My point?  If we let Him, God will hang onto us for all we are worth.  So, when we hit a nasty snag in life, just stop and recall that God can handle it.  All we have to do is just hold still long enough to let Him get His arms around us.  Enjoy God’s blessings on this autumn weekend. — jri
 
“May he grant you joy of heart
    and may peace abide among you.”
        –    Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 50:23