The funny part is that the holier you become the more you realize your need to be purified (almost like a spiritual version of Socrates' "I know that I don't know").
Really nice article, John. Chilling yes, but only when the object is merely avoidance of evil. Such a great reminder, in the sludge of the day to day, to think of the “holiday by the sea” we are being offered!
Good article John. I think part of the "I will never be perfect" attitude stems from the fact that we do not understand perfection. Jesus says: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," but I do not think he means that each individual should possess all perfections. Rather, each person should fully realize his/her being by conforming entirely to the idea the Father has of him/her.
A Carthusian wrote: "Try to be yourself, and to realize the fullness of your own life, without thinking that you are obliged to become a paragon of perfection. Weigh up calmly your qualities and defects, your inclinations and potentialities, and with the means at your disposal and in the condition of mind and will, of aptitude and study, of the ups and downs of life--according to all these forces and circumstances, realize fully your talents."
Perfection is perhaps more attainable if we no longer seek to be "a paragon of perfection " We don't have to be the fullness of being, which is indeed impossible. We just have to be fully.
The funny part is that the holier you become the more you realize your need to be purified (almost like a spiritual version of Socrates' "I know that I don't know").
Really nice article, John. Chilling yes, but only when the object is merely avoidance of evil. Such a great reminder, in the sludge of the day to day, to think of the “holiday by the sea” we are being offered!
Good article John. I think part of the "I will never be perfect" attitude stems from the fact that we do not understand perfection. Jesus says: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," but I do not think he means that each individual should possess all perfections. Rather, each person should fully realize his/her being by conforming entirely to the idea the Father has of him/her.
A Carthusian wrote: "Try to be yourself, and to realize the fullness of your own life, without thinking that you are obliged to become a paragon of perfection. Weigh up calmly your qualities and defects, your inclinations and potentialities, and with the means at your disposal and in the condition of mind and will, of aptitude and study, of the ups and downs of life--according to all these forces and circumstances, realize fully your talents."
Perfection is perhaps more attainable if we no longer seek to be "a paragon of perfection " We don't have to be the fullness of being, which is indeed impossible. We just have to be fully.
Someone get this guy a pulpit… ;) great article, John.
Hey there