Warmed by the Fire*: Reflecting on "The Imitation of Christ"

Book 1, Chapter 10

Thomas a'Kempis advises us to use our words sparingly and carefully.  Stay away from chatter and chatterboxes. That we can enter into conversations that are not worth much, or seeking after gossip.

Avoiding a Superfluity of Words

Don't Talk Too Much

1. Fly the tumult of others as much as you can; for talking of worldly affairs, regardless of your good intention, hinders the spiritual life.


This is because we are quickly defiled and ensnared with vanity.


Oftentimes I wish I had been silent and not been in the company of others.

But why are we so willing to talk and discourse with one another, since we seldom return to silence without prejudice to our conscience.

The reason why we are so willing to talk is, by talking with one another we seek comfort from one another; and we would gladly ease the heart, wearied by various worldly thoughts.

And we are very willing to talk and think of such things as we most love and desire, or which we imagine contrary to us.

This last sentence of paragraph one is interesting in that Good Thomas points right at our intent...our tendency to seek out gossip or complain of our imaginary enemies.  People don't talk about us as much as we imagine...and that too, is vanity!

In paragraph 2, below, Thomas starts out by telling us that we are our own worst enemy when it comes to growing closer to the Lord.  Indeed, Jesus tells us to "Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one. (Matt 5:37)"

2. But, alas! It is often in vain and to no purpose: for this outward consolation is no small hindrance to interior and divine comfort.




"Watch and Pray"



Therefore, we must each watch and pray (Matt 26:41) that our time may not pass away without fruit.

If it be lawful and expedient to speak, speak those things of God which may edify.


A bad use or habit, and the neglect of our spiritual advancement, are a great cause of our keeping so little guard upon our mouth.


But devout conversations concerning spiritual things help advance you toward spiritual progress, especially where persons of the same mind and spirit are associated together in God.

So what's a talker to do?  "Watch and Pray" is advice worth noting.  Not only because it is from Christ Himself, but because it is good advice in any situation.  If you are praying, you aren't talking...you are in conversation with God.

Speaking for myself, we all have a tendency to quibble or fill the silence with the noise of our words.  Praying affords us an opportunity to be present without the obligation of saying anything.  And the Lord will help us in filling that "void," with Himself.

Finally, in letting my "yes" be "yes" and "no" be "no" keeps things simple.  Why always explain everything?  This keeps words at a minimum.  It's an exercise of a new habit.  Try it out and see what He does when you talk to Him through Knee Mail!

Til next time....thanks for reading and praying along with me!
tim