Who Are “The Ruined?”

by David Morrison

________________

“The Ruined” are those countless ones throughout the ages who have encountered the presence of the living God to such an extent that they are “ruined” for the things of this world. They can never return for any extended time to what was formerly known as “normal life.” They are burned with a vision of the beauty of God in the face of Christ–and they seek this in everyone and everything they meet. They desire to take the invitation to enter into the divine dialogue that eternally takes place between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They have realized that there are no other pleasures left that this world can possibly offer; and so they are driven ever deeper into the mysteries of God until they drink from “the river that delights His city.” They have encountered the Resurrected Christ and have gazed into His eyes of fire with their hearts. The fire in His eyes has burned into their hearts and eyes; and they now see the entire creation bathed in the fire of God’s passionate love. As Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote in his poem, “God’s Grandeur“: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God. / It will flame out, like shining from shook foil…” Consequently, the rest of their lives on earth, and even onward into heaven is an eternal journey into the sacred, burning heart of Jesus.