I must really be persuaded that although God makes use of men for his works, he does not need them. And so I will make a lot more progress in what he deigns to confide to me if I live infinitely more in dependence on him and worry less about a successful outcome. A little more prayer, much less worry and control.
In line with this thought I take the resolution to manage my life in such a way as to do more praying than I have up to now. That’s where I must get used to transacting my business and that of our community, youth, etc.
As well as the morning one, in common with everybody else, I will slip away for a few moments after dinner to resume this exercise before the Blessed Sacrament so far as possible.
Retreat Notes, July-August 1816, O.W. XV n 139
Here it is again – that idea that it is all about so much more than just Eugene and the work he is doing: it is about God – and his little community, the youth and the others who he was sent to serve.
God does not need him or anyone in order to be – God is! So God does not need our mumbling and muttering, our telling God what needs to fixed and how that should be done. At the end of the day all the worry and control that we think might help us are nothing more than distraction from him who is All .
Eugene mentions his new evening exercise of being before the Blessing Sacrament – so far as possible. We do not have to go and try to find God: God always knows exactly where we are. All that we need to do is to stop and be with, to listen – to allow our hearts to listen to more than just our own voices and desires.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: your are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)