Whoever is willing to serenely bear the trial of being displeasing to herself, that person is a pleasant place of shelter for Jesus. -- St. Thérèse of Lisieux
I love this quote. I love it because my first reaction was incredulity...as in, No Way. Then I became willing to change my mind because I'm not entirely stupid. I've never heard of St. Thérèse of Lisieux but if she's being quoted by learned people, she's worth giving an ear to.
So I ponder it, and it comes that to serenely bear the trial of being displeasing to oneself means to be at peace with our rues, regrets and remorses. We learn early on that we need to make peace with our regrets rather than resist them by trying to forget or justify or blame. All of which is trying to make them not have happened...which, regrettably, nurtures them.
My blinding flash of the obvious: This is the opening of the door...the realization of our remorses as a place of shelter for God, i.e., God's home within.
My further blinding flash of the obvious: What St. Thérèse said is akin to what the Indians (Navajo?) reportedly did as they wove their blankets: They consciously wove a mistake in each blanket as a place for God to enter.
God loves us so much.
Thank you.
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