“And so we may know that this same God, who by His hand led us through the world, now withdraws it... and opens His embrace to receive the longing soul.” (Søren Kierkegaard)
"In order to open that embrace, God must first let go of our hand. For a moment -- one that feels like an eternity -- He must withdraw His strength and support, and we feel abandoned. Yet God never abandons those He loves; and by an unfathomable miracle of grace, He loves us all." (Fr John Breck).
