“Solviture ambulando”
(It is solved by walking)
St. Augustine, 354-430
Theologian and important figure in the development of Western Christianity
Category Archives: St. Augustine
You Give and Take Away
Black-Eyed Susan at Biltmore Estate
“Blessed be your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name.”
REFLECTION
The lyrics above were floating softly through the air Saturday afternoon as the sun shone down on my walk through the flower gardens of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Steven Curtis Chapman was warming up on the outdoor stage above the gardens for that evening’s concert. It was a beautiful experience to worship as I wandered and photographed His creation. Sometimes I wish life had a soundtrack (I often create my own) and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect song for my excursion with the flowers.
I was snapping the picture above as Steven solemnly sang out the line, “You give and take away…” He repeated it again…and then sang that final line, “And yet my heart will choose to say, Blessed be Your Name.” My heart stopped and I stood still. The meaning of those words suddenly took hold as my mind reeled with the knowledge that two months ago, Steven’s 5-year-old adopted daughter, Maria, was accidentally struck by a car and killed. He later opened his concert with this song of worship and talked about how difficult the recent months had been and the overwhelming sorrow and confusion of his family’s loss. He said he didn’t understand how and why, had more questions than answers, and certainly couldn’t explain anything about the loss in theological terms, but his faith in God was simple and true and had not wavered.
My mind and heart went so many places during that concert, as the sun set behind the mountains to the west and the stars came out overhead. I covered a lot of emotional ground, and topics, and came back to a comment I’d made earlier that evening over dinner with my friend Gina: “Is it better to have loved and lost, than never loved at all?” (as both Tennyson and Augustine claimed). This is a question heavy on my heart right now. Life is good. It is rich and full in many ways. Empty in others. Should I be thankful that I’m spared the pain that comes from broken relationships and lost children, or should I mourn that I may never experience that degree of love and life? My heart breaks so much for others in their pain; how could I handle my own? Perhaps it’s better this way.
Steven Curtis Chapman said the pain was worth the gain. If he’s right, then I’m mourning. And seeking comfort in the love and life I do know. It must be enough. Blessed be your name, Lord.
Faith
Red Dogwood
“Faith is to believe what you do not yet see;
the reward for this faith is to see what you believe.”
St. Augustine, 354-430
Theologian
Evening Prayer
“Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
and give your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest your weary ones,
Bless your dying ones. Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones, shield your joyous ones.
And all for your love’s sake.”
St. Augustine, 354-430
Theologian and important figure in the development of Western Christianity
It is Solved by Walking
“Solviture ambulando”
(It is solved by walking)
St. Augustine, 354-430
Theologian and important figure in the development of Western Christianity
