Shortly after graduating from college, I received a beautiful and mysterious bouquet of flowers with a card that read: The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know.
I ended up in the library (well before Google) to discover the quote was by Blaise Pascal—the 17th century French mathematician, physicist, philosopher, writer and Catholic theologian—and that the end of the quote reads: …it is the heart that perceives God and not the reason; this is faith. I did not appreciate the meaning of this quote until I returned to the Catholic Church over four decades later and read another quote, often attributed to Pascal, which rang true immediately: There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator…
I finally understood that despite my accomplishments, fulfilling work, material goods and earthly family, nothing would remove my chronic restlessness except a consistent, conscious connection to God.
Recently, a woman asked me how to achieve this type of secure connection. She confided that, despite her unshakable belief in God, she felt overwhelmed by not knowing where to begin.
I felt privileged to share guidance from a variety of sources … wisdom that has been shared with me to help find my own way through spiritual fog. First and foremost, our chances of receiving help increase greatly if we ask for it through prayer. If you are skeptical or feel far from God, my encouragement is to start with a simple prayer, the quickest portal to God, and then be still and listen. Below are some examples of one-sentence prayers.
I believe; help my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)
Lord, show me the way and give me the strength.
God, what do you think I should do?
Come Holy Spirit.
We are promised help if we ask for it. “So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
I never did learn who sent the flowers, but they are a gift that keeps on giving, reminding me of inspiration available from other seekers and sojourners.
Blessings,
Susan
P.S. I invite you to visit the Resource page on my website for a list of resources to help you experience God in a fresh way (https://www.susanrdolan.com/resources).
