Worship and Evangelization Outreach / Tim Rathz

Listen because God speaks his love to us in many ways

Can we hear God speaking to us through silence? I think we all know the answer to that question, but still, it is something worth pondering.

I was sitting in my office at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis, trying to come up with some inspiration for this column. The phone was ringing off the hook, and there was noise all throughout the house. I figured my best chance to really tune out the world and tune into God would be to walk our wooded trails on this beautiful autumn day.

As I entered one of our wooded trails, I was immediately startled by several thumps on the ground. It seemed the trees were dropping crabapples on my head. I tried to keep my senses open to what God was saying to me in these moments, so I decided this was the way he wanted me to go. Of course, he could have been telling me to stay away or I’d get plunked on the head! I had a feeling I’d be OK, so I ventured on.

I looked down and saw the trees were dropping yellowish-green balls everywhere. I picked some broken ones up for further inspection. It seemed I was incorrect about these being crabapple trees, as they look more like walnuts. I’m no “tree-ologian,” so I never know these things for sure. When I looked at my hands, I noticed they had been stained by the walnuts. It reminded me of the blood Jesus spilled for us. I was definitely going the right way. I continued.

As I crossed a bridge, I noticed a rather large spider web. I couldn’t help but admire its flawless complexities. I couldn’t build something this intricate and symmetrical if I tried. I thought, only God could come up with this kind of elegance. I continued on.

I walked past the Holy Family shrine. There was a clearing in the trees just above, and the sun’s rays shone luminously onto the shrine. There’s God again. I continued.

I made my way past the Butterfly Garden, which is dedicated to the survivors of suicide loss. God always seems to be able to create beauty, even through the worst of pain. I kept going.

I arrived at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine. Here, Mary is looking upon on the three children of Fatima, to whom she appeared. I observed the children were all looking in different places. All three are kneeling, but one is looking up at Our Lady in awe, one is looking straight forward, and one has her head bowed in prayer. I have been to that shrine a million times and never noticed that previously. It reminded me that we are all in different places in our lives, but God always meets us right where we are. I smiled and continued on.

I emerged from the woods. Walking around the building, I noticed a stepping stone that reads, “How Lovely is the Silence of Growing Things.” Once again, God was speaking through silence. I continued to my final stop.

As I looked at Fatima’s outdoor prayer labyrinth, I noticed several rocks in the middle. If you have ever had a chance to visit the labyrinth, you probably know that the rocks symbolize prayers. People pray for God to take away the pain they are carrying, and they drop that pain (the rocks) when they get to the middle. I realized I was staring at the intense and heavy prayers of others. My heart was full, knowing so much healing has happened right where I stood.

At the end of my short journey, I learned that God speaks his love to us in so many ways. Through nature. Through beauty. Through silence. Through contemplative thought. Through the pain of others and ourselves. And, of course, through prayer.

God teaches us in every minute of every day. It’s our job to recognize it and spread that love to others.
 

(Tim Rathz is guest services manager at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Fatima.) †