You Have Heard It Said

Jesus lived the ordinary life of the men of His time, in order to sanctify the ordinary lives of men of all time. If we want to be spiritual, then, let us first of all live our lives.

Thomas Merton

I needed to hear this quote this week. Thanks Tim. I am as susceptible as anyone to the grass always being greener somewhere else. This results in the phenomenon Merton puts his finger on. Too often I am not living my own life, but instead trying to live some super spiritual fantasy life that does not exist. When I think about the possibility of being a farmer, I’m excited and frightened simultaneously. Excited to be part of making the world a better place, but scared of being forgotten, ministering in obscurity. I want to be Wendell Berry. I want people to listen to me and care what I think. Merton reminds us of the proper order of life. Seeking first the kin_dom means denying yourself and accepting obscurity. Tough words for a celebrity obsessed culture.