“There is not a single instant in our life in which we cannot set out on a new course.” (St. Charles de Foucauld)
Speaking of the rebellion of the Israelites in the desert, Scripture offers the exhortation: “O that today you would hearken to his voice! Harden not your hearts” (Ps 95:7c–8a).
This “today,” this kairos, is constantly offered to us by God so that we may walk in His ways. As long as we are alive, it is never too late, because until the last moment, our Father keeps the door open to us. If a person sincerely turns to God and calls Him “Father” even once, he can be saved.
Thus, there is no reason to despair.
Instead, we should be aware that we can always choose a different path. How often, for example, have we resolved to start anew after going to confession? Or we realize that we have not accomplished what we set out to do and say, “I will try one more time.” We may have experienced situations in life that showed us we have lost our way or missed a path offered to us, and then we decide: “With God’s grace, I will try again.” Perhaps we set out to do something important but did not finish it.
Our Father expects us to try again and again—to turn to Him and live according to His wise teachings. Even if it is already too late for some essential aspects of our lives and we cannot recover our original innocence, God will accept our repentance and allow us to embark on a new path.
His love arranges this for us; His love calls us never to give up, and always to start anew by His hand. Such is our Father!