To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.To one without faith, no explanation is possible.– St. Thomas Aquinas
Whole health compels us to examine ourselves on at least three levels – mind, body, and spirit.
It’s routine to examine the body through physical assessments – Is my face clean? What hurts today? What is this strange rash? What are my lab results?
It’s recognized that mental conversations are continuously occurring – Why did I just say that? What will s/he think of me? How can I do this & this & that today?
Yet the spiritual examination is often pushed to the backburner, for “another day, when there’s more time,” or maybe relegated to community worship on Sundays. And spiritual examination can be tough to prioritize, because it means tending to the needs of our deep inner lives.
Unfortunately, the chaotic rhythm of our daily external lives often distracts us from the anchoring inner rhythm that ultimately gives us Life.
St. Augustine points to this when he writes- “… You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
Rest. Retreat. Withdraw. Step back. Take time away.Rest in You – Divine Love
When we rest in God, we rest in Love.And what is the consolation in that?
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
How can we BECOME perfect in love, if we don’t REST IN perfect love?
When we tend to our inner lives, we nourish our faith. We don’t only “know” as the world knows. Rather we know, that we know, that we know.
We EXPERIENCE perfect love daily.
“Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Faith isn’t a blind hope, it is a clarity of vision that reveals the unique path we each have, and then calls us to walk along that path.
Faith invites us to journey the path of Love, which drives out all fear.
What does that look like?
FEAR v. LOVE
Fear destroys. Love builds.
Fear screams. Love whispers.
Fear attacks. Love protects.
Fear doubts. Love believes.
Fear judges. Love accepts.
Fear wounds. Love heals.(-from Pinterest)
Perfect love drives out all fear.
Let’s take time to rest in Love.
Comments