ON GAINING OUR DREADED HUMILITY

Saint Francis taught you have to find a way interiorly to love and have compassion for the world....Finally, everything, every Scripture, every law, every action, history itself is to be interpreted in light of the primacy of Love and Christ over all. -- Fr Richard Rohr, "Daily Meditation," October 2, 20019

There it is, my mandate to give over, give up, give in.

We begin our journey seeking still more spiritual growth without a clue what that even means. Spiritual growth in my beginnings probably meant a way to feel serenity one hundred percent of the time. I recall talking about serenity a lot. I for sure wasn't looking to give over to anyone, much less give up or give in.

Today, with my time on this earth running low on gas, I am grateful that I caught a clue fairly early that ego deflation in depth was not only necessary but a good thing. Something, in fact, impossible for me to do all on my own...or to do at all. It is gifted us by the love of the Christ within.

All...every need, every hope, every prayer...is satisfied by the love of the Christ within.

However, we are rarely gifted by grace while living in our preferred Me First way. It is the prior proper planning that prevents poor performance (with thanks to my military friend for the 7 Ps, minus 1) that delivers.

We make a conscious decision to throw in with God...then the preparation begins. Studying spiritual literature, seeking others on the same path as ours, asking, asking, asking...finally, listening. Trying to do that which we have worked so hard to accept as our truth...and failing. Repeatedly. And then...and then...the gift of realization that failing, too, is of God. Part of God's plan. Our gift for how else do we gain our necessary, albeit dreaded, humility.

We are freed from our self-perceived need to stand up for ourself, to not be a doormat, to push back. When we made our decision, we were released from our egoic need to protect ourself. God has our back.

And there it is...finding a way interiorly to love is giving over, giving up, giving in. Loving others. Loving others as ourself. With God as our yardstick.

Thank you.