Bob Dylan and Thomas A' Kempis say: "you're gonna have to serve somebody."

Book 1, Chapter 9:  On Obedience and Subjection

First, a little music to set the tone for this post, from Bob Dylan's "Slow Train Comin'" -Gonna have to serve somebody

Here, it's a pretty good guess that Thomas has a model in mind for us, in Christ's subjection and obedience.  The Creator of the universe humbles Himself to take on not just the form of a man, but of a helpless child, and later a boy.  This boy learned a trade, washed dishes, helped garden and feed the animals, etc.  Subjection here is a cooperation with and humble obedience to an authority even though not necessarily one "superior" to you.  And Thomas describes this sense below.


Jesus Willingly Subjected Himself
to Joseph and Mary

 1. It is a very great thing to be under obedience(1) to live under a superior and not be at our own disposal.  It is much more secure to be in a state of subjection than in authority.  Many are under obedience more out of necessity than for the love of God; and such as these are in pain and grumble easily.  Nor will they gain freedom of mind unless they submit themselves with their whole heart for God's sake.  Running here or there, you will find no rest, but in an humble subjection under the government of a superior.

Now Thomas takes us to an examination of our favorite opinions...our own.  He's counseling us to keep our thoughts to ourselves (once in awhile at least to begin with, for those of us, including me, who think we have a corner on the insightful comments!) .  If we listen more, perhaps we will hear God more!

Opinions & Belly Buttons

2.  It is true that everyone desires to act according to his own liking; and is more inclined to his own opinions of his own mind.  But if God is among us, we must sometimes give up our own opinions for the sake of peace.  Who is so wise as to be able to know all things?  Therefore, do not trust your own thoughts too much, but be willing to hear the sentiments of others.  Although your opinion may be good, yet for God's sake leave it to follow that of another and it will be more profitable to you.



Capturing a Swarm of Bees

 As a beekeeper, bees will teach you humility quickly.  And beekeepers learn this very fast.  We often share stories of our humiliation at the "hands" of these little creatures.  Listening to a seasoned beekeeper is well worth the subjection of our own opinion, even though all of us beekeepers think we know all about bees.
   Recently, having read all about swarms, I tried to capture one on my own.  I knew how to do it, even had opinions on the best way to approach the swarm.  But I was smart enough (and scared enough!) to call my friend Dave, for help.  And thank goodness I did!  Dave had the bees in a box in no time.  I learned a lot that day that added to my opinion and knowledge. Sacrificing a bit of humility along the way helped get the bees into the box.  Thanks, Dave! 


Yield!

 3.  For I have often heard that it is safer to listen to and take counsel than to give it.  It may also happen that each one's thoughts may be good; but to refuse to yield to others when reason or a just cause requires it, is a sign of your pride and willfulness.

Final comment:  as Bob Dylan says, "you're gonna have to serve somebody."
  You might as well bring it to the Lord and find the joy during the service and in the obedience.

Thanks for praying along with me.
Til next time, be imitators of Christ!

1. "He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart." Luke 2:51

Accountability Counts. (Thinking of Puffy Bunny marshmallow Game)

In Book 1, Chapter 2, Paragraph 3, Good Thomas turns his attention to the knowledge element in more detail (see previous post) by focusing on the accountability element to our level of knowledge.  He tells us that knowledge carries a stiff price.  It's okay to be smart (which is different than being knowledgeable) and to know many things, but having the wisdom to put both gifts together is the challenge:

3. The greater and more complete your knowledge, the more strictly accountable you will be at the day of your judgment unless your life be also more holy by measure. Therefore do not be puffed up with any skill or knowledge but rather be accountable for the knowledge which has been given to you.

If it seems to you that you know many things and understand many things well enough, know at the same time that there are many, many more things of which you do not know at all.

Do not be high-minded but rather acknowledge your ignorance. Why would you want to let yourself be above others when there are many others with more knowledge and skill in the Scriptures than you? If you would know and learn anything to its purpose, love to be unknown and be considered as nothing in the sight of others.

In the first paragraph, the leaven for knowing a great deal is holiness, and leading a holy life.  Do you also have the wisdom of knowing when enough is enough?  Does your knowledge have value, or is it just trivial, ego-boosting? 

These questions reminded me of a game my boys used to play in Cub Scouts:  The puffy bunny marshmallow game.  In that game, you are to stuff your mouth full of marshmallows to the point of "cheek exhaustion" and then be able to say "puffy bunny".  The game is silly and fun and the results are hilarious, but I couldn't help but think of it as an analogy for comparing to this passage on knowledge.  Marshmallows have almost no nutritional value, and too many of them in your mouth will keep you from being understood. So to "win" at the puffy bunny marshmallow game, you need to know when to stop ingesting the marshmallows so you can at least say "Puffy Bunny".

And like the puffy bunny game, in the next paragraph, Thomas tells us that no matter how many items we stuff into our heads, there's so much more that we still do not or cannot know.  Just one more marshmallow?

So where does humility fit in?  The last paragraph tells us that being humble in our knowledge is the best practice, since there are clearly others who know more, not only about "things" but about The Lord or The Scriptures.  I can think of at least 4 people right out of Scripture, who know more than me:  Jesus, Solomon, Moses, St. Paul.  And I'm fairly sure my Bishop and my Pastor knows more than me.  Then there's my friend Kay, who reads her Bible daily. And I'm fairlysure that my friends and Deacons, Dave and Tom know more than me...hmmm.  Anyone else?  Of course there is our Patron Saint here, Good Thomas A'Kempis, who knows more than me.  So with that august crowd, I'm feeling okay with acknowledgeing my ignorance here.

My prayer then, is this:  "Lord Jesus, please help me to moderate my eagerness to know so much about everything.  Help me to direct this effort with Your leaven of humilty and holiness.  Help me to seek those things worth knowing, especially where it concerns You or The Faith.  And where the Faith is the focus, please know me more for my holiness and obedience to You than for my knowledge of Scripture."

Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!
tim
p.s.  Next time we will finish up Chapter 2 with an exploration of how to empathize with all those bad people out there.  We will first look at our friend in the mirror.