One of the real gains of walking through blogland is that like many another stroll in unfamiliar landscape, you turn a corner and discover beauty, are surprised by joy, ambushed by that which deamnds our attention. So on James K Smith's blog, Fors Clavigera, I came across this quotation from Charles Péguy's long prose poem. It distills into beautiful words and cadences some of our inner longing to know enough of the heart of God to live our lives hopefully towards the always new future. To be read slowly, and more than once.

From The Portal of the Mystery of Hope By Charles Péguy

The faith that I love best, says God, is hope.

Faith doesn’t surprise me. It’s not surprising.

I am so resplendent in my creation. . . .

That in order really not to see me these poor people would have to be blind.

Charity says God, that doesn’t surprise me. It’s not surprising.

These poor creatures are so miserable that unless they had a heart of stone,

how could they not have love for one another.

How could they not love their brothers.

How could they not take the bread from their own mouth, their daily bread, i

n order to give it to the unhappy children who pass by.

And my son had such love for them. . . .

But hope, says God, that is something that surprises me.

Even me. That is surprising.

That these poor children see how things are going

and believe that tomorrow things will go better. T

hat they see how things are going today

and believe that they will go better tomorrow morning.  

That is surprising and it’s by far the greatest marvel of our grace.

And I’m surprised by it myself.

And my grace must indeed be an incredible force.

~trans. David L. Schindler, Jr.