Over the years I have often found solace in the words of Thomas a Kempis. With the exception of the Bible, The Imitation of Christ has been the most popular of all Christian writing for the past 500 years.
My habit is to pick a passage at random and immerse myself in the piercing truth of my friend Thomas’ insights. His thoughts call me back to the place where I have found peace with God. That has been especially helpful in those hours when I have allowed the hardships of life to drag me into the pool of self-pity. Pain and misery can so easily distract me from what should be always be the primary focus of my life – gratitude for the unmerited grace of God.
Here is an example of a passage that recently blessed me, titled “Of a pure mind and simple intention”:
“By two wings is a man lifted above earthy things, even by simplicity and purity. Simplicity ought to be in the intention, purity in the affection. Simplicity reaches toward God, purity apprehends Him and tastes Him.
“No good action will be distasteful to thee if thou be free within from inordinate affection. If thou reach after and seek nothing but the will of God and the benefit of thy neighbor, thou wilt enjoy inward liberty. If thine heart were right, then should every creature be a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine. There is no creature so small and vile but that it shows us the goodness of God.
“If thou were good and pure within, then thou would look upon all things without hurt and understand them aright. A pure heart sees the very depths of heaven and hell. Such as each one us inwardly, so judges he outwardly. If there is any joy in the world surely the man of pure heart possesses it, and if there is anywhere tribulation and anguish, the evil conscience knows it best. As iron cast into the fire loses rust and is made altogether glowing, so the man who turns himself altogether unto God is freed from slothfulness and changed into a new man.
“When a man begins to grow lukewarm, then he fears a little labor, and willingly accepts outward consolation; but when he begins perfectly to conquer himself and walk manfully in the way of God, then he counts as nothing those things which aforetime seemed to be so grievous unto him.”
Do I find some of this awkward and difficult to comprehend? Oh yes! But is it not wise to wrestle with words that may have eternal significance? Surely that is more profitable than spending hours reading the tons of gibberish that seek our attention every day.
Earthly things weigh us down. They distract us from enjoying the awesome beauty of a butterfly, or the warm smile of an old man or an old woman who is blessed by our affection. Two wings, Thomas says, lift us above earthly things: simplicity and purity. Two things you cannot buy at a shopping center. Two things that are gifts God gives to those who seek them.
As I read Thomas’ words, I heard Jesus saying: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” And I heard him saying, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you shall wear….look at the birds of the air…. See how the lilies of the field grow….”
I found myself praying, “Lord, purify my heart. Cleanse me of my attachment to earthly things so that my greatest desire will not be freedom from pain but a pure heart that pleases you. Show me ways to live a simpler life that honors you and enables me to truly love my neighbor as myself. Equip me, Lord, with the wings you alone can provide: the wings of simplicity and purity. May these wings enable me to ‘soar on wings like eagles’ as I look to you for the renewal of my strength. In the name of your Son, my Lord Jesus, Amen.”