The Great Catcher
Trust is the basis of life. Without trust, no human being can live. Trapeze artists offer a beautiful image of this. Flyers have to trust their catchers. They can do the most speculation doubles, triples, or quadruples, but what finally makes their performances spectacular are the catchers who are there for them at the right time in the right place.
Much of our lives is flying. It is wonderful to fly in the air free as a bird, but when God isn’t there to catch us, all our flying comes to nothing. Let’s trust the Great Catcher.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen,
Trusting the Catcher
Henri Nouwen’s image of the trapeze artist captures the heart of what it means to live by trust. In recovery, in mental health struggles, and in everyday life, we often find ourselves suspended midair—between where we’ve been and where we’re going, unsure if we’ll land safely. Flying can feel thrilling one moment and terrifying the next. But Nouwen gently reminds us: what makes the leap meaningful is not how perfectly we fly, but who catches us. God is not a distant observer—He is the Great Catcher, always ready, always faithful, always present at just the right time. Trust doesn’t eliminate the risk or the fear, but it allows us to let go, knowing we are not falling into nothing—we are falling into grace. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics