Misery, O Misery - No Freedom For Any From Trouble or Anxiety

This week, as we look at Chapter 22, I'm going to break this chapter up as it's a little longer.  And, there's a lot of exceptional insights by Thomas in this overview of the human condition.

Thomas opens the Chapter beginning with the end in mind:  Turning our gaze toward God, no matter what, so that we place ourselves in His care.  None of us gets our "way" so we may as well look to God's will.

CHAPTER 22  On the contemplation of human misery.

Turn yourself to God or you will be afflicted where ever you are, and where ever you turn. Why are you anxious because an event does not happen to you according to your wishes and desires for that occurrence? Who do you know that has everything according to their will? None of us: Neither I, nor you, nor any one upon the earth. There is no one person in the world free from trouble or anguish, even though he were King or Pope. Who is it who has the happiest situation in life? The one who is strong to suffer some for God.

The second paragraph here reminded me of the Pearl S. Buck novel, "The Good Earth," in that chasing after the material world is fruitless and empty. Thomas then engages our notion of sinfulness in that while we pursue the necessities of this life, we encounter the corruption and temptation that is tied to those wants and needs.

2. Many foolish and unstable people say,

 "See what a prosperous life that one has, how rich and how great, how powerful, how exalted." But lift up your eyes to the good things of heaven, and you shall see that all these worldly things are nothing, they are utterly fleeting, yes, even wearisome, because they are never possessed without excessive care and fear. The happiness of mankind lies not in the abundance of temporal things but in moderate portions of things. Our life upon the earth is certainly one of affliction. The more you desire to be spiritual, the more bitter does this present life become to you; because then you better understand and see the defects of our human corruption. For to eat, to drink, to watch, to sleep, to rest, to labor, and to be subject to the other necessities of nature, is truly a great tragedy and affliction to a devout man, who would be inclined to be released and free from all sin.

Next time we will look at para 3 & 4 on the how our interior life responds to these necessities.

Until then, thanks for reading and praying along with me.
Be imitators of Christ!
tim

A Daily Meditation in Memorial to My Dad

It is great wisdom not to be rash in our actions;

Nor to be hard-hearted in our own opinion:

Nor should we believe every man's word;

Nor in-the-moment tell others the things which we have heard or believed.  

My father, Jim, passed away four years ago this week. He was such a man as Thomas a'Kempis describes here (From Book 1, chapter 4, The Imitation of Christ).

As a family, we were fortunate that he modeled these qualities which Thomas writes about, delineating the qualities of the virtue of Prudence.

Dad was not a rash man.  He had a big, soft heart, and waited for things to play out before commenting on the actions or judgments of others. He didn't gossip, and took you at your word (unless there was evidence to suspect otherwise).

Today, may you find your own model out in the world: seek them out and follow the template.

Looking forward to seeing you in Heaven, Dad!

Until next time, thanks for praying with me.
Be imitators of Christ!
Tim

Today's 1 Minute Meditation. Drawing with God.

"Draw near to God
and He will
Draw near to you."
James 4:8

This quote from St. James has a motion-oriented double meaning to it.  It speaks of the intimacy of closeness that we can experience with The Lord, such as St. Joseph experienced in his work with Jesus.  It also reminds me of how sitting down and coloring with my kids is always a cherished memory for us.

Until next time: Be Imitators of Christ!
tim

Spiritual Confidence - Today's 1 Minute Meditation

Brothers and sisters: do not lose your confidence of going forward toward spiritual things; there is yet time, the hour is not yet past. From Book 1, chapter 22, para 5 Thanks for praying along with me. Until next time, be Imitators of Christ! Tim