[Pearls Ep 132: Monday motivation]
We were dog-sitting this weekend for a friend. Our doggie guest was a diminutive Maltese of advanced years. We didn’t want to leave her alone – our own dog would probably have been fine with her, but perhaps not so with our cats, since they are … well … cats. So we split up for Mass. My daughter Annie and I went to evening Mass, at a Church we don’t ordinarily attend (our Church doesn’t have an evening Mass). Seated in front of us was a lovely couple who held hands most of the Mass. I found it charming – Karen and I tend to do the same thing. At Communion they went up together and I noticed the wife stayed very close to the husband, almost clinging to him. And then after he received, he remained by her side until she also had received the Eucharist. And as they continued on, I realized that she was blind, and accustomed to holding to her husband. It was beautiful. They were so conformed to one another – she in trust, he in tenderness.
And that brings us to this week’s Pearls…
We’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ desire to set us ablaze (spiritually speaking…).
We left off Friday reflecting on where we need most to sprinkle some spiritual lighter fluid.
Hopefully the Holy Spirit has raised up something in your mind. If not – there’s no time like the present.
When we become aware of areas of our life that tend to be spiritually cool, we need to find ways to connect them with Christ, so that He can strike a fire.
Proverbs tells us – “It is the glory of God to conceal things, and the glory of kings to search things out.” (Pv 25:2) By “kings” is meant each of us (we’re told we are made “little less than gods”). And so, our work is to search out God in the areas of our life that seem cool. In reality, we’re not concealing these areas of our life from God – God knows every bit of us. What is happening is that God is concealed in those things. He desires us to discover Him there and ask, “Lord, how is it that You desire to love me in this aspect of my life?”
There are endless reasons why we have areas of life where we are spiritually cool. Perhaps we are simply distracted from Christ by worldly concerns and allurements, perhaps we try to hide from Him in our pet vices, perhaps we doubt His power to heal a painful situation. Whatever it may be, we need to seek Christ in exactly those areas – and recognize our spiritual blindness and cling to His awaiting arm.
And what happens when we experience Christ’s tender and confident presence in that aspect of our life? We discover a new way in which we are on fire for Christ.
Blessing on your journey with Christ –
Steve
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life