Is eating all this spinach worth it?

At the end of Book 1, Thomas tells us that all this work is for nothing unless we change how we approach every aspect of our life.  Our spiritual laziness (sloth) has to be whipped into shape.  We have to be watchful, like a sentry, so we can make progress on our journey.  We already have the answers to our weaknesses:  Behave otherwise: "Do now what you would do then, and you shall be very secure!"  This reminded me of Popeye the Sailor, who would wimper, knowing that if he ate his spinach, he could face down most anything! We need to face our fears, be these real or imagined. Thomas tells us to work on our hardest sins first, then work for the good which we want the most.  And one more thing: we need to then pursue behavior which lessens the faults we most dislike in others.

CHAPTER 25

Of the Fervent Amendment of Our Whole Life

Be watchful and diligent in God's service, and think often why you have renounced the world. Was it because you might live for God and become spiritual? Be zealous, therefore, for your spiritual profit, for you shall shortly receive the reward of your labors, and neither fear nor sorrow shall come any more into your borders. Of course you will labor a little more now, and later you shall find great rest, yes, even everlasting joy. If you remain faithful and fervent in working, God shall be faithful and bountiful in rewarding you. You must remain in good hope that you will attain the victory, but you must not think of yourself as secure, lest you grow negligent or presumptive.

2. When one is in anxiety of mind, continually wavering about between hope and fear, and being on a certain day overwhelmed with grief, casts himself down in prayer before the altar in a church, and meditates, saying, "Oh! If I but knew that I should still persevere," and presently heard from within a voice from God, "And if you did know it, what would you do? Do now what you would do then, and you shall be very secure." And immediately being comforted and strengthened, he committed himself to the will of God and the anxious wavering of spirit ceased, neither had he a mind any more to search curiously to know what should befall him hereafter; but studied rather to inquire what was the good and acceptable will of God, “well pleasing and perfect,” (Rm 12:2)for the beginning and perfecting of every good work.

Paratrooper getting
ready to jump

3. “Trust in the Lord and be doing good,” says the Prophet; “and dwell in the land and you shall be fed with its riches.” (Ps 37:3). There is one thing which holds back many from progress and fervent amendment: and that is the dread of difficulty, or the labor of the conflict. Nevertheless they advance above all others in virtue who strive bravely to conquer those things which are most troublesome and contrary to them, for there a man profits most and merits greater grace where he most overcome and mortify himself in spirit.

4. But we all do have not the same passions to conquer and to mortify, yet those who are diligent shall attain more progress, even though one may have stronger passions than another who is more temperate but less fervent in the pursuit of virtue.



Paratrooper
Jumping

Two things particularly bring about improvement in holiness, namely the ability to firmly withdraw ourselves from the sin to which by nature we are most inclined, and earnestly to work for that good which one wants most.
And strive also to guard against and subdue those faults which displease you most frequently in others.

Next time, Thomas will give us some solid examples of this spiritual living that takes us to the next level.  Until then, thank you for praying with me and imitating Christ!  tim p.s. please pray for those fellow travelers with cancer.  I'm seeing it more and more.  Thank you!