A friend was sharing about a book she had recently read and enjoyed, which sounded like a nice easy read for the summer. I ordered a copy, expecting to relax and enter into its narrative, touching on memories that resonated with my own growing up years in the country. The book also spoke of the author’s first romance, experienced in an era of more grace and restraint than our modern culture demonstrates. As I read of the budding romance that led to marriage, I was struck by the purity of the courtship, and surprised by how my heart was being moved, to the point that tears began to flow freely.
I’m not one to cry often, and rarely in the presence of other people, so the intimacy of entering into this story proved to be a place where I was more open to God’s touch. For indeed He was touching my heart, and I didn’t understand why. When I casually mentioned my crying experience to my daughters, they asked me the “why” question, and I didn’t elaborate for two reasons. One (1), I knew I would begin to cry again (I could feel it!), and Two (2), I didn’t know the answer.
A classic rule of a spiritual direction session is to bring forward the thing you least want to talk about. So, obedient to the model, I started to relate this experience to my director, and sure enough, there were the tears again, waiting to come forth! She gave me some space, and then named the word that solved the “why.” It was “Purity.” The beauty of witnessing
Purity, and how it blessed the people who were embracing it in their relationship, was a grace of God. A gift, that He wanted me to recognize and receive.
As I thought about this reality, another conversation confirmed it for me. I was briefly mentioning being surprised by tears as I read a book, without going into any detail or speaking of purity. My friend immediately connected with my experience, as he spoke of also being surprised by tears recently. He was googling “stuff” and came across a clip of four little girls singing the national anthem at a football game in Texas. He clarified that he was not drawn to any of those details; little girls, Texas, football or the national anthem. What touched his heart, as it had touched mine, was the purity, the beauty, of the singing. Their voices were in perfect sync with one another, and the arrangement had some additional harmony that was excellent. He found himself crying, it was so pure, and I would add, holy.
Vatican II has called all the baptized to a Universal Call to Holiness. I’m recognizing in this call how much Purity, a manifestation of Beauty, is central to holiness. I googled Truth, Beauty and Goodness and came up with these thoughts: “Truth, Beauty and Goodness are considered to be transcendentals, or eternal attributes of being that are present in all things created by God… God is the source of these attributes, and possesses them in their ultimate perfection… Humans, since they are made in the image and likeness of God, not only have the attributes as a reflection of Him, but are also aware of these transcendentals and are drawn to them because the desire to seek God out is written in the human heart.” (From http://www.corpuschristiphx.org, June 2021)
These words brought great consolation to my heart, as my friend who was moved by the purity / Beauty of the little girls’ singing is presently at odds with God and outwardly resistant to His Love. I rejoice to know that his response to these attributes corresponds to the desire to seek God that is written in his heart! I’ve known and believe that God has His Hand on him, and this series of events has confirmed that for me, praise God!
Thank You Lord, for the gift of tears experienced and shared which has opened another window to Your Goodness. Thank you for Your attribute of Beauty, manifest in purity that lifts up the call to Holiness. Thank You for again weaving experiences and events together in unexpected and surprising ways to reassure me of Your love and care for those I hold in my heart. May I continue to trust in Your Divine Providence as You make Your Goodness manifest to eyes that are open…
Spiritual Sun Pennies 