To become all that we are meant to be, we must learn to become a little less than we demand to be. Joan Chittister from The Liturgical Year.
Some understanding might be found in the Gospel of St. John 12:24: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
Discussion now open.
5 comments:
That Bible verse was ued by Elisabeth Elliot in her book "A Path Through Suffering," which was so useful to me when I was recovering emotionally from a horribly distressing time of life, years ago. To me, it seemed to indicate complete surrender, a willingness to die and be buried at God's hand, b/c we trust him. It's hard to be willing to be "buried" and simply trust that you will be raised up again, that you'll grow up into a sturdy shaft of wheat once more. Until we learn to do this, in this life, how can we peacefully die at the end of our time on earth, and trust God for our resurrection?
Yes, isn't it hard to separate our culture's "can do" influence from the sweet song of surrender?
Matthew 18:4.
Luke 14:27-33.
Philippians 2:1-11.
Colossians 2:8-15.
Romans 8:29-30.
1 John 3:1-3.
Galatians 2:20, 5:24.
Philippians 1:6.
Based on the above, I'd submit that we must become nothing, in order that we might gain everything. Not just "a little less", but nothing. What we are meant to be, if we are in Christ, is promised.
Oh, yeah. One more. Matt 6:33. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and these things will be added to you. Seems to me if we are setting out to be all that we are meant to be, then we've already missed the boat because what we are seeking first is ourselves.
It's that "less is more" thing that Gretchen Joanna was talking about. Less of me, more of Him.
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