Here's another re-post for you. (Different art work though.) Somehow, this seems to fit with what I posted yesterday:
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.It is, of course, by Thomas Merton from his wonderful book, Thoughts in Solitude.
An editorial review on Amazon says this about the book:
What has made this book such an enduring and popular work is that it recognizes how important solitude is to our morality, integrity, and ability to love. One does not have to be a monk to find solitude, notes Merton; solitude can be found in the act of contemplation and silent reflection in everyday life. Also, this is not a pious book that assumes that a relationship with the divine can be obtained only by denying our humanity and striving for saintliness. Instead, Merton asserts that connection with God can most easily be made through "respect for temperament, character, and emotion and for everything that makes us human."Sadly, a lot of common approaches to Christian formation do suggest that we need to deny our humanity in order to please God. Of course, paradoxically, that has the effect of making us more self-conscious rather than less. Making friends with ourselves is an important first step on the spiritual path. Think about it. Why would we give a self that we hate as an offering to God? I actually like that old T-shirt that says, "God doesn't make junk". So do remember this wonderful saying of Irenaeus: "The glory of God is the human being fully alive!"
~~~
“Sadly, a lot of common approaches to Christian formation do suggest that we need to deny our humanity in order to please God. Of course, paradoxically, that has the effect of making us more self-conscious rather than less.” I can well remember when this was my biggest burden. Not so much now. Instead this Merton quote probably best describes most of my journey: “MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself.”
ReplyDeleteThen there’s this quote: “But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.” Well I have to admit that I don’t have that desire in all that I’m doing. But I do have it in part of what I’m doing.
That reminds me an ad someone posted yesterday about a training course for victims of bullying. The teachers, two brothers, said something that I think I’ve come to apply to myself in relationship to my spiritual journey. What they said was, “When you’re training a child avoid saying, “Don’t do that.” Instead take their hands in yours and put them where they should be and then tell them, “Great job!” Gradually they’ll start taking over and you won’t need to guide them. I sort of like to think of God that way I guess – that God will praise me for what I do well and have patience with me when I don’t. Interestingly I’ve found it’s a method that works better for potting training my dog than getting angry.
I like the sound of that training course!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HfaUCCJ4_M
ReplyDeleteThe youtube site where I saw the discussion of the anti-bullying program by Rener Gracie and his brother.
Wow. That guy is amazing. I wish I could take a self-defense course from him!
ReplyDelete(I'll bet he would be as good with little old ladies as he is with kids!)