I
thought I heard Him cry, 'Beware! Do not wait until I drive you to
misfortune, but go voluntarily into solitude, prepare for Me, and
wait for Me, till I come to abide with you.'
"I am here, my God, according to Thy command; Thou and I, I and Thou,
face to face in the silence. Oh, speak to my heart, and clear out from
it everything that is not of Thee, and let me abide with Thee awhile!
Not only speak, but make me understand, and turn my body and spirit
and soul into feelings and actions, not words and thoughts alone.
"My health and nerves for the past three years have rendered me less
practical and assiduous in religion than I was. Then I used to essay
fine, large, good works, travel, write, and lead a noble and virile
life. Now I am weaker, and feel a lassitude incidental to my time
of life, and I seem to have declined to petty details, small works,
dreaming, and making lists and plans of noble things not carried out.
It looks like the beginning of the end.
"I ask for two worldly petitions, quite submitted to God's will" (1) That
I may be cured, and that Dick and I may have good, strong health to be
able to work and do good--if we are destined to live. (2) That if it
be God's will, and not bad for us we may get a comfortable independence,
without working any more for our bread, and independent of any master
save God."
Isabel returned to Trieste when her retreat was concluded; and soon
after--much sooner than she expected--her husband returned to her.
Pages:
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281