GodReflection: Talking with God.
Giovanni, nicknamed ‘Frank the Frenchman’ by his father, was born in Italy into a family with several brothers and sisters eight hundred forty years ago. History describes him as a handsome, witty, fun-loving youth who enjoyed fine clothes, rich friends, a lot of money with all the pleasures it could buy. His father must have taken great pride in his son’s talents.
As a young man his life starts to change direction.
One day while charged to sell with care his father’s goods at the market, a destitute person
asks for a coin or two. Giovanni refused and finished his business transaction. Struck with belated remorse and pity, his pocket now filled with his father’s money, he leaves the remainder of his dad’s merchandise unattended and goes in search of the beggar—to whom the young Frank the Frenchman gives everything in his pockets. His father was furious. No longer was he his father’s favorite son.
After a year of captivity while in military service, a subsequent illness, and time spent locked in a storeroom by his disappointed and enraged father, Giovanni escapes with the aid of his mother. He begins to re-evaluate his life. In repentance he will serve the poor.
Over what remains of his short forty-four-year life, he commits in his words: “to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.” Within that commitment he discovers special love for the Lord’s Supper communion observance, and from the breaking of the bread and the blood of the wine he preaches: “Your God is of your flesh, He lives in your nearest neighbor, in every man.”
Thankfully, one of his abundant prayer conversations with God continues to inspire countless people after eight-plus centuries to talk with The Holy. Giovanni’s nickname, Frank the Frenchman, is known to Jesus followers today, by its Italian origin, Francis of Assis. I suspect he would not mind if we took his prayer to heart and shared it anew as a reflection of the desire within each of us to grow into the likeness of Father, Son, and Spirit. Let’s plead his prayer slowly, thoughtfully, and openly, as we talk with the Holy.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon, Where there is doubt, faith, Where there is despair, hope, Where there is darkness, light, Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we awake to eternal life. (Instrument of Your Peace – Francis of Assisi)
Quite a bold humble conversation to present from our side of the table over coffee time with the Creator don’t you think? How can we pray it more often?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.
God Reflection 
Amen, dear Gary, amen.
LikeLike
Thank you, Gary! This entire post is beautiful!
LikeLike