This was an incredibly helpful chapter about recognizing the small things that can interfere with growth in prayer. I am also doing the Desert Fathers in a Year with Bishop Varden whom I greatly admire. And the point about ignoring the things other people do and their faults and focus on your own fits right in with Anthony's saying on peace that one who stays in the desert doesn't have to fight on 3 fronts: hearing, speaking, and seeing. He has only to contend with the heart. And if I can avoid paying attention to other's faults I can focus on what needs improving in myself. Which Jesus most graciously let's me know when I ask.
I started out learning to do God's will by asking Him which groceries to buy even though I made a list before I went. There were days when I got everything on the list and then put it all back and then got it all over again, just listening to what He wanted. Which also helped becoming less concerned about what other people think becomes anyone who watched me would have thought I had lost my mind.
Do I even have a protocol of Discernment to sort the temptations from the Promptings of the Spirit?
The short answer is, No. The more interesting dilemma is, Do I even need one?
The really interesting question: among the many Good possibilities, What is Best and for Whom is it Best? Me, or my neighbor, or for The Glory of God? The latter being somewhat a red herring: God isn't moved by my estimation of what augments His Glory. Rather it is good for me and my neighbor that I be mindful of what my life, as I live it, testifies about my actual submission to my current understanding of what God finds pleasing, regarding myself
Digression: "Current" is just such a lively word. Not just for the flowing waters and the lightning bolts. Even better is the reference to the dynamic-rather-than-static "tensions" of the "present moment." (These three also words of comparable complexity, suggesting the gift of temporality, in which we are privileged to live until our flesh should die while we are constantly invited to live on. Now and forever, in and with God.
One could go on, but to what end? Confusion or clarity?
I do know that my preferences tend to be Slothful. I would rather read alone, or dig a perfect trench by eye, (also alone) the latter to impress others with my skill with a shovel. There is craft in the use of any tool, which any contented working man, craftsman or laborer, will tell you. Yet, to revel in doing exclusively what you love is also sloth. (I did have the good fortune to grow up among working people. God help me if I had been the son of a banker or a salesman.) No matter how busy, doing always the jobs, or even the good works, you enjoy (Seldom or never actually toiling) is also sloth. Sloth hiding behind a curtain. Acedia is sloth grown up into just not caring anymore. In which you are no longer moved by the suffering of those around you. Suffering that you (probably) have the means to relieve, but now imagine to be the just deserts of, their "poor choices." (As though the poor have an abundance of good choices always at hand.)
Don't get me started. The great advantage of knowing your besetting Capital Sin is that you may recognize the specific Virtue to exercise. Against Sloth the Virtue to exercise is Diligence. Specifically, in daily toils, in doing everything you can and could have done, but somehow avoided in the past, and eventually took pride in not having been "forced" to do.
For me the best activities are the least desirable (to me) good works. I had my fun. Now, when time is short, it is not too late for me to repent, but sincere repentance in a new life allows no self-pity. I must and I do find constant reasons to rejoice in working out my salvation in fear and trembling.
I manage an initial reaction. I might revisit. That would be diligence. Otherwise, on to the next fascinating chapter. (Damned sloth! Grumble grumble.)
This was an incredibly helpful chapter about recognizing the small things that can interfere with growth in prayer. I am also doing the Desert Fathers in a Year with Bishop Varden whom I greatly admire. And the point about ignoring the things other people do and their faults and focus on your own fits right in with Anthony's saying on peace that one who stays in the desert doesn't have to fight on 3 fronts: hearing, speaking, and seeing. He has only to contend with the heart. And if I can avoid paying attention to other's faults I can focus on what needs improving in myself. Which Jesus most graciously let's me know when I ask.
I started out learning to do God's will by asking Him which groceries to buy even though I made a list before I went. There were days when I got everything on the list and then put it all back and then got it all over again, just listening to what He wanted. Which also helped becoming less concerned about what other people think becomes anyone who watched me would have thought I had lost my mind.
I don't know where to begin.
Do I even have a protocol of Discernment to sort the temptations from the Promptings of the Spirit?
The short answer is, No. The more interesting dilemma is, Do I even need one?
The really interesting question: among the many Good possibilities, What is Best and for Whom is it Best? Me, or my neighbor, or for The Glory of God? The latter being somewhat a red herring: God isn't moved by my estimation of what augments His Glory. Rather it is good for me and my neighbor that I be mindful of what my life, as I live it, testifies about my actual submission to my current understanding of what God finds pleasing, regarding myself
Digression: "Current" is just such a lively word. Not just for the flowing waters and the lightning bolts. Even better is the reference to the dynamic-rather-than-static "tensions" of the "present moment." (These three also words of comparable complexity, suggesting the gift of temporality, in which we are privileged to live until our flesh should die while we are constantly invited to live on. Now and forever, in and with God.
One could go on, but to what end? Confusion or clarity?
I do know that my preferences tend to be Slothful. I would rather read alone, or dig a perfect trench by eye, (also alone) the latter to impress others with my skill with a shovel. There is craft in the use of any tool, which any contented working man, craftsman or laborer, will tell you. Yet, to revel in doing exclusively what you love is also sloth. (I did have the good fortune to grow up among working people. God help me if I had been the son of a banker or a salesman.) No matter how busy, doing always the jobs, or even the good works, you enjoy (Seldom or never actually toiling) is also sloth. Sloth hiding behind a curtain. Acedia is sloth grown up into just not caring anymore. In which you are no longer moved by the suffering of those around you. Suffering that you (probably) have the means to relieve, but now imagine to be the just deserts of, their "poor choices." (As though the poor have an abundance of good choices always at hand.)
Don't get me started. The great advantage of knowing your besetting Capital Sin is that you may recognize the specific Virtue to exercise. Against Sloth the Virtue to exercise is Diligence. Specifically, in daily toils, in doing everything you can and could have done, but somehow avoided in the past, and eventually took pride in not having been "forced" to do.
For me the best activities are the least desirable (to me) good works. I had my fun. Now, when time is short, it is not too late for me to repent, but sincere repentance in a new life allows no self-pity. I must and I do find constant reasons to rejoice in working out my salvation in fear and trembling.
I manage an initial reaction. I might revisit. That would be diligence. Otherwise, on to the next fascinating chapter. (Damned sloth! Grumble grumble.)
I better be quick. Ask me later if...
Random thought:
Thank God for Satan.
Would many of us even be able to forgive each other, our ourselves, if all our evils were entirely of our own doing?