It is said that once upon a time St. Kevin was kneeling…
““It is said that once upon a time St. Kevin was kneeling with his arms stretched out in the form of a cross in Glendalough. . . As Kevin knelt and prayed, a blackbird mistook his outstretched hand for some kind of roost and swooped down upon it, laid a clutch of eggs in it and proceeded to nest in it as if it were the branch of a tree. Then, overcome with pity and constrained by his faith to love all creatures great and small, Kevin stayed immobile for hours and days and nights and weeks, holding out his hand until the eggs hatched and the fledging grew wings, true to life if subversive of common sense, at the intersection of natural process and the glimpsed ideal, at one and the same time a signpost and a reminder. Manifesting that order of poetry where we can at last grow up to that which we stored up as we grew.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Compassion can lead to self‑sacrifice, blurring natural order and spiritual ideal.
In simple terms: Love may cause us to hold on to impossible things.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of altruism.
Themes
compassion
faith
nature
Mood
reflective
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- volunteer work
- environmental stewardship
- personal meditation
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
self‑sacrifice
spiritual paradox
human‑animal bond
Questions to Reflect On
- When does caring become self‑destructive?
- How can we love responsibly?
A Different Perspective
Blind compassion can cause personal harm.