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In 1937 Walt Disney released the first full-length animated movie. The movie is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Disney artists drew over a million pictures for the movie. Each picture flashed onto the screen for only one-twenty-fourth of a second.
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"Providence" is from the Latin, "to see beforehand." Speaking of Divine Providence, we mean Divine Being involved for final good in the Kosmos, history, Nature, and person's lives.
Divine Providence is a lot like the pictures in the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The pictures would move so quickly, the human eye would never know that by the end of the show it would have viewed over a million of them. Providence is so intimate within time, indeed, forms the very structure we call time, that usually we discern the work of It only by hindsight. This is one reason faith plays such a key role in the spiritual Life.
A psalmist refers to Divine Providence as an awesome mystery, beyond our fathoming. He sings in the classic Psalm on Divine Providence ...
17Your thoughts are far beyond
my understanding,
much more than I
could ever imagine.
18I try to count your thoughts,
but they outnumber the grains
of sand on the beach.
And when I awake,
I will find you nearby.
*Psalm 139.17-18, CEV
Jesus trusts in and proclaims the mystery of Divine Providence. He applies the intimate thought of the Divine within Nature to our human existences. The Mind of God is so intimate within all things, like birds and hairs, that we can feel safe in an oft unsafe world.
29Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. 30Even the hairs on your head are counted. 31So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
*Matthew 10.29-31, CEV
The Apostle Paul applies Divine Providence to a work going on within us, as contemplatives trust daily. The work shapes our willing and obedience.
13God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.
*Philippians 2.13, CEV
Elsewhere, the Apostle Paul affirms that Divine Providence, while not guarding against misfortune, takes all things and works them for our benefit.
27And he [God] who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good [or, "God works all things together for good," or "God works in all things for the good"], for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he [God] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn [or, preeminent] among many brothers [and sisters].
*Romans 8.27-29, ESV
In the Romans passage, Paul shares with us the mystical Presence within us, for God knows the thought of the Spirit, or spirit, within us. And, also, God works with even the harmfulness that can threaten our well-being, to bring about positive good.
Paul gives, as usual with Paul, a Christocentric understanding of Divine Providence. Why this amazing Providence in the life of the Christian? First, that we will become more like Christ. And, second, that Christ will be honored in his position as firstborn among his spiritual brothers and sisters.
Divine Providence, from a Christian perspective, does not offer guarantee against evil and harm. We are not given liberty from the consequences or our or other person's choices, either.
This Providential agency calls us to participation in the working out of good. Our response to what happens to us postures us toward the power of the Light or not. Trustful cooperation is essential in Divine Providence. Divine Providence does not lessen our responsibility, it heightens our responsibility.
The classic on Divine Providence was written by French Jesuit, Jean-Pierre de Caussade (d. 1751). Caussade's classic is Abandonment to Divine Providence. In it he counsels us on the simplicity of response to Divine Providence, including when we face what appear "insurmountable difficulties."
If the work of our sanctification presents, apparently, the most insurmountable difficulties, it is because we do not know how to form a just idea of it. In reality sanctity can be reduced to one single practice, fidelity to the duties appointed by God. Now this fidelity is equally within each one’s power whether in its active practice, or passive exercise.
The active practice of fidelity consists in accomplishing the duties which devolve upon us whether imposed by the general laws of God and of the Church, or by the particular state [in life] that we may have embraced [thus, this counsel applies equally to those of a contemplative life and those of an active life]. Its passive exercise consists in the loving acceptance of all that God sends us at each moment.
Today, I found myself distressed during prayerful meditation. Yet, I found myself, without explanation, being graced to give spontaneously, joyfully, and calmly that very distress to God. This pertains to the passive aspect of "loving acceptance."
Likewise, during the meditation today, and afterward as I moved about the house, I kept "hearing" the Spirit say to me, "Connect to the Light." I discerned by that Word and inward vision that the Spirit was telling me to engage in simple duties of active goodness that would get me out of "myself" and connect me more strongly to Christ's Love and Presence. This is an example of the active aspect of cooperating with Divine Providence, the "practice of fidelity."
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In what ways do you cooperate with Divine Providence by "active fidelity"? How do you find yourself cooperating with God through "loving acceptance"? Is there some challenge you are going through that provides you opportunity to engage in cooperation with Divine Providence? Explain ways you can cooperate with God in this challenge?
Reflect on a past experience when your cooperation with God made all the difference in a trying time in your life? Describe the experience.
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*The edition of Abandonment to Divine Providence, ed. J. Ramiere, intro. Dom Arnold. From Tenth Complete French Edition, by E. J. Strickland.
*Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union, can be ordered through major booksellers.
*Brian K. Wilcox lives with his two beloved dogs, St. Francis and Bandit Ty, in Southwest Florida. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons, along with empathic relating with other world religions, East and West. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry, for all spiritual seekers.
*For replies and biographical information, as well as booking retreats or workshops, fill out the following form:
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