Sleeping in snatches, with the voices ringing in our ears,
“This is all folly.”
In the last line of Sanza One, Eliot concludes not with the physical difficulties the Magi encountered, but with their self-doubts. Just what was “all folly”? The travel itself, the promise of the Christ Child? The voice they heard directly contradicted the command the Magi had heard at the beginning of their quest, although the Bible makes no mention of such a command.
With pressure from his literary friends, a disastrous marriage to a dancer, Vivienne Haigh Wood, and a near nervous breakdown, Eliot might have had reasons to believe his conversion “All folly.” But like the Magi, Eliot did not turn back from his conviction but remained a Christian until his death.
The Christian walk is not always an easy one. John 16:33 makes this promise: “In the world, you have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” We have this assurance just as the Magi had the prophecies.
“Sleeping in snatches” was my usual nighttime pattern during the last nine months of my husband’s life. There was always some need of his that called me out of bed!
Reflection:
I never regretted accepting Jesus as my Savior, but there were plenty of times I wondered if I had the strength to finish my journey with an ill spouse. Did you ever feel God had called you to a task you were ill-equipped to handle?
2 thoughts on “All is Folly”
Oh yes! !!! This is one of those kind of seasons. A scripture that often pops in my mind is about Paul declaring that he glories in his weakness ‘cause it’s then Holy Soirit rises in him to make him strong. (My interpretation). Sometimes that word reproduces itself in me. Other times that word sounds like a clanging gong and I think, “that’s easy for you to say, Paul”.
Right this minute I’m at peaceful rest thinking of how God is changing me on the inside and the positive overflow as it seems to be having on my family. So im “marking” this moment here to remember when next I don’t feel God’s presence while being pressed, um…squished like an olive.
We all have season, Marian, in which we are less than content with Paul’s words! Moments of peace are often interrupted by moments of doubt and frustration. We need to keep our eyes on the positive things God has done and know that He will continue His work. Even when we’d really just like to have a stern word with Paul.