I have been going through my fairly hefty journal filled with mostly quotes.  I came across one that I blogged about nearly five years ago, so I thought I would share it again.  I love his analogy.

I ran across this piece by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange when I was going through a very dark time of prayer.  What he has to say applies also, of course, to any times of darkness in our lives–times when we can’t see the ending, wondering if it will be good or bad.  (Of course, God works everything for the good, but sometimes it’s hard to even see that, isn’t it?)  Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange writes: “If we are saddened at the approach of twilight, God could well answer us by saying: How can I otherwise reveal to you all those thousands of stars which can only be seen at night?”  Isn’t that the truth–we can only see stars if there is darkness–and a deep darkness at that.  And we can only see certain spiritual things (of just as much beauty as the stars on a clear, clear night) if we walk through certain darknesses that God allows.  “To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!” (Ps 123.1)  Lift up your eyes!