The background is a closeup photo of the bare rock in Gethsemane on which Jesus’ agony is commemorated, preserved inside The Church of the Agony (also known as the Church of All Nations) in Jerusalem. I felt this quote fit well with the moment in Christ’s life that this rock commemorates.
Immediately outside of the church are massive olive trees that are believed to have been around at the time of Jesus’ agony two thousand years ago, making them among the oldest in the world:
This quotes reminds me to remain strong and hopeful of the light that can come out of the dark moments in our life, where we may be feeling spiritual dryness. In the absence of God’s gifts, we can grow in patience, faith, and endurance, which all help evolve our hearts beyond simply loving God for his gifts. Here’s a video where Father Mike shares a great boat analogy to explain the spiritual journey we are invited to take: YouTube: Father Mike and Ascension Presents: Finding God in Darkness
