When we separate ourselves from each other and the world around us it is impossible to see the grandeur of God we will remain blind to the gifts God is pouring out upon us – trapped in a downward spiral of animal self-love……
How tempting it is as we make a little progress in the life of faith to pat ourselves on the back for thinking we must be ‘jolly good fellows’ for God to have chosen to love us and care for us!
Resisting the Prowling Lion – 40 Days with Screwtape Day 20 – Thursday after 3rd Sunday of Lent To Read: From The Screwtape Letters: Screwtape, a senior demon, is offering advice to Wormwood his nephew, an apprentice demon. The language he uses is ‘upside down’ referring to God as ‘the Enemy’ and the devil as ‘Our… Continue reading Resisting the Prowling Lion – Day 20
Having given everything away to love and serve God the work, though difficult is not demanding, though dealing with dark places is full of light and, even when walking amongst intense sadness there is to be found an immense amount of joy!
‘Nothing’ when not faced down with belief gobbles up everything!
…Sometimes, perversely, I beg for a big sin – because then I have to wake up, run home, and seek forgiveness and succour in the ever welcoming bosom of God’s love.
If the ‘demons’ of our life cannot turn us into hardened unrepentant egoists then they are more than happy to settle with small sins. After all banal sin remain sin.
Whilst in this world we may be subject to troughs as well as crests but no matter how low the trough of despair may be, we are not faced with the prospect of emptiness but the wonderful possibility of being further filled!
How important it is to learn that the deep troughs of the undulations of the spiritual life are not darkness but are in fact the place from which we take the first steps of a deeper faith.
We want cattle who can become food:
He wants servants who can become sons.
We want to suck in,
He wants to give out.
We are empty and would be filled;
He is full and flows over.
Suffolk Vicar 