“The spiritual journey is not a career or a success story. It is a series of humiliations of the false self that become more and more profound. These make room inside us for the Holy Spirit to come in and heal. What prevents us from being available to God is gradually evacuated. We keep getting closer and closer to our center. Every now and then God lifts a corner of the veil and enters into our awareness through various channels, as if to say, “Here I am. Where are you? Come and Join me.” Thomas Keating

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He lifts up;
and every branch that bears fruit,
He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:1,2 [my trans.]

Moving From the Head to the Heart

• Are you able to think of the Christian journey as “a series of humiliations?”  of painful cutting away (“pruning”, “evacuating”)?
• If the “false self” consists of all the masks we wear, our defense mechanisms and our egocentric approach to life, can you see why it needs to be “humiliated” or put in it’s place? Can you see the need for this in your own life?
• Can you see God’s good behind it (more “available” to God, “more fruit”) and hear his invitation: “Here I am. Where are you? Come and Join me.”?

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For More: The Human Condition: Contemplation and Transformation by Thomas Keating

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The “Daily Riches” from RicherByFar are for your encouragement as you seek after God, and as he seeks after you. My goal is to give you something of uncommon value each day in less than 400 words. I hope you’ll follow my blog, and share it with others. I appreciate your interest!  –  Bill (Psalm 90:14)