The Hawk and the Dove: Week 5- Book 3, Chapter 4 - Chapter 8

This is one of those books that I hate to turn the last page. Have you enjoyed reading about these Fathers and Brothers who lived so long ago and the lessons God taught them? I know I have—and I feel like I’ve been on a treasure hunt for quotes that give great insights into life and faith.

I especially was entranced and challenged by the conversation about life and death Tom and Peregrine have on pages 466-476. On page 473 Peregrine says, “God did not watch me weep, watch part of me die in misery. We share one breath, he and I. God also wept, groaned, died. He carries my wounds in his body. My gut clenched in sobbing, and it was the heartache of God. All my fear and defeat are scars that he wears on his breast. But, God lives in eternal bliss. God can’t die. Surely that was the point about Jesus; he came so we could have life—to put an end to death. God’s supposed to lift us up! It’s a poor do if our miseries drag God down in the dirt too, isn’t it?”

The conversation continues, but I will stop there because I have to say I agree and disagree with what Peregrine says. I live because of the life God breathed in me. God cares deeply and I do believe He shares my suffering/sadness. At the same time, I don’t believe my suffering weighs Him down even though he feels it deeply. He is God. He is bigger than our shared sadness over the suffering of the world. So though He feels sadness, anger, and maybe even frustration—He is above those emotions because He knows He will complete His good work, He knows He will redeem everything. He is so amazing and worthy of our respect and worship.

As we come to the end of this book, what do you take away from our last reading and from this book? I look forward to reading your comments. Thank you for reading with me!