In his book, The Hope Quotient, Ray Johnston retells a story of an early 20th Century pilot's attempt to fly around the world (2014, p. 78). While refueling in a field before a four-hour flight over water, a rat climbed into the plane. About half-way through this leg of the trip, the pilot heard a "scratching, gnawing sound inside the plane" (Johnston, 2014, p. 78).
An uninvited passenger was chewing on the plane's steering cable.
Two hours from land in either direction, the pilot realized that rats weren't meant to fly. He began increasing the plane's altitude until the sound ceased. After safely landing on the other side of the ocean, the pilot opened up the plane's mechanical parts and threw out the dead rat.
Johnston's point: the next time a rat - doubt, disappointment, despair, downtrodden-ness, doom, death, the devil - is gnawing at you, ascend to the heights.
Discouragement drops; hope rises.
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati expressed a similar sentiment through one of his most famous phrases:
Verso l'alto.
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| Photo from: https://frassatiusa.org/verso-lalto |
Translation: "toward the top" or "to the heights".
Frassati embraced life and lived it fully throughout his 24 years on earth. An avid adventurer, Bl. Pier Giorgio climbed mountains, skied, road horses, and played countless sports. His joyful, loyal, humble, and grateful spirit infected friends and family alike and encouraged fellowship and faith sharing among them. As a committed Catholic, Frassati attended Mass daily, held a devotion to the Mother Mary and the Rosary, and performed innumerable works of mercy for those suffering from poverty and sickness.
Whereas Frassati never declared "verso l'alto" as a life-motto while alive, his life witnessed a constant pursuit of the best things - truth, goodness, beauty and life - for himself and others.
In a world bent on deconstruction and tearing down, may we ascend to the heights focusing instead on "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8). This doesn't mean ignoring injustice or denying the existence of darkness. Instead, it requires that we inject light and life into situations void of hope: God works in all things and "(h)ope would have us recognize that there is always a way out, that we can always redirect our steps, that we can always do something to solve our problems" (Pope Francis, 2015, #61).
To the heights.
In a time when society quickly cancels, turns failures into viral viruses, and dismisses dialogue and discourse, staying on the shore's safe sands and/or passively following the masses becomes attractive. Jesus calls us to "put out into the deep" - duc in altum - so that we can rise to the heights for which He created us.
In relationship with Christ, may we courageously dance in the darkness and sing from the shadows. As we do, we can liberate others to do the same. When we do, the world may try to silence our song or disrupt the dance - "this is silly", "no one will join in", "it won't work", "it won't make a difference", "it's too hard", "who do you think you are?", "it's all about you".
In these moments, remember Bl. Pier Giorgio's response to someone who told him that he sung out of tune, "But the important thing is to sing" (https://totheheights.com/2609/bl-pier-giorgio-frassati-quotes/).
To the heights.
For God.
With others.
In faith.
Forever.
Verso l'alto!
References:
Johnston, R. (2014). The Hope Quotient: Measure it. Raise it. You'll never be the same. W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.
Pope Francis. (2015, May 24). Laudato Si'. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
