Day 36 of 80

The Eagle and the Little Bird

Chapter XI·Manuscript B·Trust & Surrender
Context
One of Thérèse's most powerful images. She is not an eagle — she cannot soar to God by her own strength. She is a tiny bird with weak wings. But she refuses to grieve over this. Instead, she fixes her gaze on the Sun of Love and waits for the Eagle to swoop down and carry her.

How can a soul so imperfect as mine aspire to the plenitude of Love? What is the key of this mystery? Alas! I am but a poor little unfledged bird. I am not an eagle, I have but the eagle's eyes and heart! Yet, notwithstanding my exceeding littleness, I dare to gaze upon the Divine Sun of Love, and I burn to dart upwards unto Him! I would fly, I would imitate the eagles; but all that I can do is to lift up my little wings--it is beyond my feeble power to soar.

What is to become of me? Must I die of sorrow because of my helplessness? Oh, no! I will not even grieve. With daring self-abandonment there will I remain until death, my gaze fixed upon that Divine Sun. Nothing shall affright me, nor wind nor rain. And should impenetrable clouds conceal the Orb of Love, and should I seem to believe that beyond this life there is darkness only, that would be the hour of perfect joy, the hour in which to push my confidence to its uttermost bounds.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux — Story of a Soul, Chapter XI (Manuscript B). Taylor translation, 1912 (public domain).
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