THE QUILT
As I faced my Maker at last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls . Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt. An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and all the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of the truth ...The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been.
My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it.
I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had spent many lonely nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully: each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been...I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes opened wide.
Then I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, The Face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with love and warmth in his eyes. He said: "Every time you gave over your life to me, it became my life, my hardships, and my struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let me shine thru, until there was more of me than there was of you."
Today’s Synaxarium: 5 Baounah 1729
Departure of St. James of the East
Martyrdom of Saints Anba Bshay (Ebshoy) and Anba Botros (Peter)
Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of St.Boctor (Victor) in the region of Sho
+ سنكسار اليوم: 5 بؤونة 1729
§ استشهاد القديس يعقوب المشرقى
§ استشهاد القديسين الأنبا بشاي والأنبا بطرس
§ تذكار تكريس كنيسة القديس بقطر بناحية شو
كتاب لماذا القيامة - البابا شنودة الثالث
فوق كل كما قلناه، وأعلى وأسمى من كل ما قلناه، هناك الله في السماء.
الله –تبارك أسمه– الذي سنعود إليه بعد غربة طويلة على الأرض. كيف سنلقاه وبأى وجه؟ وهل اعددنا قلوبنا لهذا اللقاء؟ وإن كنا قد أخطأنا، فهل اصطلحنا مع الله؟
وكيف ستكون علاقتنا به في الأبدية؟ هل سننسى كل شيء ونذكره؟ أترى سيكون الله هو متعتنا الوحيدة في السماء؟ وكيف سنعرفه؟ وكيف سيكشف لنا عن ذاته ما تحتمل طبيعتنا البشرية أن تعرفه؟
هنا ويصمت قلمى، لأن الموضوع أكبر من اللغة ومن الألفاظ، وأقوى من العقل ومن الفكر. أترك هذا الذي لا أعرف، وأتكلم أخيرًا عما أعرف.سماء
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