What’s all this about the chest which you never used to mention except to boast about its resonance? So now it feels tender and you have to complain about it! Just take care of your voice more; you shout too much when you preach and even when you speak. Take some milk or something else to sooth it; in a word, reflect on how you can keep your fires burning.
Fr. Jeancard, in his zeal and enthusiasm to preach, had over-extended himself during the parish mission at Saint-Remy, and was now suffering. It was the story of practically every Oblate in the early days: enthusiasm and love for the people leading to over-commitment.
I am not surprised at what you tell me of the state of affairs at Saint-Remy, I was convinced beforehand that my plan had been to have the exercises begin eight days before the opening of the Jubilee so that they might have time to respond to the eagerness of this numerous population, but, but, but! it is always the same thing. Hominem non habeo; those who can work are already doing too much; so we have to be content with less.
God knows our good will, he will take it into account.
Letter to Jacques Jeancard, 14 December 1829, EO VII n 341
Yet another morning when Eugene could be writing directly to myself. “God knows our good will, he will take it into account.” I have repeated those words over and over. Between them and a statement that was said to me yesterday I think of how I do not ‘have’ to do everything, most certainly not all by myself. I think of some of the people (living and dead) in my life who have inspired and led me, who have taught and walked with me. High energy, passionate people, zealous people.
I laugh a little as I look at what Eugene is saying to Fr. Jeancard about over-extending himself. Eugene himself over-extended himself at a few times early on in his life. Here he speaks with the tone of love that a father or mother has for their children and who recognize something that has been a part of themselves. It comes from love.
I think of God looking at us through eyes of total and immense love – love that is not measured. It is from this that we learn to love. God is not looking for us to be perfect, I think that he/she is looking only for us to allow ourselves to be loved and so reflect that back. Indeed – God knows our good will and will always take that into account. There is comfort found in these words.