It seems every July 4 when I read my Easwaran daily reader, I feel gobsmacked by the Meister Eckhart quote: Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow -- for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort.
And the gobsmacked comes with the last three words, or inward comfort. Loving God for the sake of outward wealth is obviously of the reasoning mind (because it does make sense, who's kidding whom?). But loving God for the sake of inward comfort? That's on the same plane as loving him for outward wealth? Holy moly. That is some strict standard...but then it is Meister Eckhart. He'd best have higher standards than we do...he is, after all, the one we're trying to emulate.
And still I am re-reminded that I know and I do preach, unfortunately, that we go to God for God and that is all. To go to God for aught but God, even for health, wealth and happiness for my enemy, is staying in the material mind. There is no spiritual growth there.
Yet, again this year, I read the Eckhart quote and my mind balks at "or inward comfort."
Ah, now a feeling of peace comes over me. I need to be reminded once a year, apparently, that to go to God for anything but God is not going to God...it's my ego Lucy dressed in the Pope's robes heading me down that wrong road again.
God knows our needs.
Thank you.
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