“for no one is suddenly made perfect.”
Venerable Bede
Discouragement is a primary even if oft unnoticed enemy of the good life. Frankly, I often see it; and experience it. People with high ideals and fond hopes, both in what they want for themselves and their loved ones, get discouraged. This undermines intentionality and focus. It sucks energy and deflates resolve.
Among diverse causes of discouragement, unreasonable expectations stand out. In this way, I think, we can be too hard on ourselves. We don’t take the long view. “Surely,” we think, “I should have made more progress” or “we should be beyond this.” Well, perhaps we should be further along. But at the same time, perhaps we have not reckoned that life, especially in its most important aspects, is characterized by organic growth. “No one is suddenly made perfect.”
Bede focuses on human growth in its most important form—the interior life of the soul, which “in its growth [is] not like the grass (which soon withers), but it rises up like the trees.”
Rising up like the trees! What a powerful, inspiring, and instructive image! Thus should be our life in its most essential aspects. Slow growth, season after season, year over year. Winds resisted and drought endured, days of sunshine and rejuvenating rains. And then there’s prunings and manurings.
Discouragement can come of forgetting that all these things are normal. This is how it works; it’s how it’s supposed to work… as for instance in marriage, or child-rearing, which are always long rows to hoe.
The word ‘perfect,’ from a Latin root, means ‘made all the way through.’ This is the way of nature, even and especially in its higher registers. Human children take years before they even start really to act from reason. Is it any wonder that some years later they might just be getting decent at it? Ditto in virtue formation, and friendship forging, and so on.
This is not an argument to settle for less and certainly not to wait. The way of nature is not to settle or wait. But it is a way of patience, and even long-suffering. To be patient is to be willing to endure sorrow and not be overcome by it. Human flourishing is the fruit of organic growth and intentional crafting, according to a masterful if arduous plan. We are crafting, and we are being crafted. Patience, and mercy, for self and others, are part of the plan.
Why? Because the end is that good. It calls for a long haul, and it’s worthy of it. Oh, so worthy. And when after great labor, a full human person is born, those tears of sorrow will show themselves the natural antecedent of the tears of joy. ~ ~ ~
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This was timely in my own life John, so thank you. I have been feeling discouraged but not despairing and there is a difference, but the points you made about life being a long row to hoe were reminders that long suffering and patience must be expected in a life’s journey. I walked around a lake on Tuesday and stopped to stare with wonder at a huge Australian gum tree. It must have seen much in its long life. It had risen up steadfastly over the years – and was even wet footed recently in severe floods – so thinking of it will be a useful way of working through discouragement. I am not very good at grace and mercy for myself as I am for others so I will work on that a bit more as well. After all, Jesus showed the ultimate example of this when He chose to see us as treasure and die for us at Calvary. Blessings to you and the team, Cate.
I wish I could see that gum tree. I certainly identify with the challenge to be merciful to self; indeed I think I need to work on that even more than I realize! Thank you, Cate.
This article fits with a Catholic-Christian perspective that suggests God pivots with us as we age & grow. He never stops seeking to perfect us even when we make bad decisions; that’s when He pivots to work another way.
Amen. Boethius refers to God as a physician who is always looking for what the patient needs here and now.
Persevere.
Trees
BY JOYCE KILMER
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
As found in «Joyce Kilmer’s Anthology of Catholic Poets»
Lovely! Thank you, Daniel.
You’re welcome, Dr. Cuddeback.
Verily, what has Los Angeles to do with Jerusalem?
Thank-you CV for publishing this topic. Thank-you Dr. Cuddeback for the article. Thank-you Daniel for the poem.
Thank you Daniel for posting the poem. It has been decades since I read it, but it really hit home.