I facilitated a discussion about spirituality with two small groups last weekend at a synod wide educational event. We talked about many of the spiritual practices that open our hearts to God.
The reality is we do nothing to make God come closer. He is here already. We just need to learn to let go and trust him.
That reminded me of one of my favorite stories from Henri Nouwen. I shared it here on this blog a couple of years ago but seems the time is right to repeat it:
“The Flying Rodleighs are trapeze artists who perform in the German circus Simoneit-Barum. When the circus came to Freiburg two years ago, my friends Franz and Reny invited me and my father to see the show. I will never forget how enraptured I became when I first saw the Rodleighs move through the air, flying and catching as elegant dancers.
The next day, I returned to the circus to see them again and introduced myself to them as one of their great fans. They invited me to attend their practice sessions, gave me free tickets, asked me to dinner, and suggested I travel with them for a week in the near future. I did, and we became good friends.
“One day, I was sitting with Rodleigh, the leader of the troupe, in his caravan, talking about flying. He said, ‘As a flyer, I must have complete trust in my catcher. The public might think that I am the great star of the trapeze, but the real star is Joe, my catcher. He has to be there for me with split-second precision and grab me out of the air as I come to him in the long jump.’
‘How does it work?’ I asked.
‘The secret,’ Rodleigh said, ‘is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything. When I fly to Joe, I have simply to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for him to catch me and pull me safely over the apron behind the catchbar.’
‘You do nothing!’ I said, surprised.
‘Nothing,’ Rodleigh repeated. ‘The worst thing the flyer can do is to try to catch the catcher. I am not supposed to catch Joe. It’s Joe’s task to catch me. If I grabbed Joe’s wrists, I might break them, or he might break mine, and that would be the end for both of us. A flyer must fly, and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust, with outstretched arms, that his catcher will be there for him.’
“When Rodleigh said this with so much conviction, the words of Jesus flashed through my mind: ‘Father into your hands I commend my Spirit.’ Dying is trusting in the catcher. To care for the dying is to say, ‘Don’t be afraid. Remember that you are the beloved child of God. He will be there when you make your long jump. Don’t try to grab him; he will grab you. Just stretch out your arms and hands and trust, trust, trust.’ “
My prayer this week is to trust, trust, trust. Trust the Catcher!
This is one of my favorite stories too. When I read it out loud to the group I presented to a few weeks ago I actually choked up. That surprised me!
I absolutely love this story of the catcher and the flyer. It makes total sense. In our flesh, we as flyers would want to take on the roles of both flyer and catcher at the same time. What folly. So true that in death, we are entrusting ourselves totally to the catcher. So, too, in life.
Thanks, Jean!
so great talking with you and hearing your wonderful news. I am excited for you. Glad you liked this story. It is one of my favorites.
Jean,
Thank you for sharing this again as my eyes mist over as “Trust” is my 2013 word and I sense God reminding me, yet again, Trust Me…I will catch you, don’t worry, for I am faithful and capable…He did that for me when I went to Guatemala trusting Him and His call even as I went shaking a bit…and He caught me…hugs to you, my friend 🙂
I really love this story. such a great reminder. What a great insight too in your comments. This is all saints sunday in my church and a time when we honor saints from before, now and those yet to come. The greatest story ever told keep on living!
Love an peace in those arms, Mia!
I know trust is such an issue for me and so many of us. I guess repeating it three time helps. LOL I love this story. Glad you enjoyed it.
Fantastic story. Have you noticed that God has such a neat plan of who we share the earth with while we are here? How beautiful that they shared that moment so that we in 2013 can still be blessed by it. When I think about the people in my life, those making history, and entertaining us, I think its pretty cool that we share this time. Lord willing, our walk will also bless the next generation.
Dear Jean
We need only to let go of our own efforts trying to save ourselves and fall into the saving arms of Jesus.
Blessings XX
Mia
Your last sentence brought tears to my eyes, Jean. That simple repetition–trust, trust, trust–echoed my heartbeat, and my heart’s desire. Somehow it touched a deep chord within. Wonderful story, wonderful conclusion! Thank you.