St. Augustine of Hippo is remembered by many young Catholics for his plea to God during his wild youth, "Give me chastity and continence, but not quite yet." (Actually, I have many non-religious friends who are familiar with this particular quote, finding it very amusing, indeed.) Recently, a friend of mine sent me this second quote which struck me as particularly powerful for our time:
"See what we are insisting upon; that the deeds of men are only discerned by the root of love. For many things may be done that have a good appearance, and yet proceed not from the root of love…Once for all, then, a short precept is given you: Love, and do what you will: whether you hold your peace, through love hold your peace; whether you cry out, through love cry out; whether you correct, through love correct; whether you spare, through love do you spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good." (7th Homily on John 1)
I find it so compelling because I am sure almost every one one of us could expand this precept to our own struggles, goals, and desires. Mine would be: "Love and do what you will, whether you create, through love create; whether you write, through love write."