The Cravings War

Thursday, September 2, 2011 -- Week of Proper 17, Year One
David Pendleton Okerhater, Deacon and Missionary, 1931


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 982)
Psalms 37:1-18 (morning)      37:19-42 (evening) 
1 Kings 11:1-13
James 3:13 - 4:12
Mark 15:12-21


"Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from?  Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?"  (James 4:1)


From Robert J.Wicks' fine little book:  Living Simply in an Anxious World

God really has only one expectation of us:  to love.  But since we find this (in our lack of hope, trust, and patience) too difficult to accept, we try to break down this call and replace it with our own human-fashioned ones.  So, the expectation to love is erased from our hearts, and the expectations to do, achieve, gain acceptance, control, be secure, or look good are put in our heads instead.  There they remain as lies to preoccupy, confuse, and trouble us.  There the purpose they serve is to help us avoid facing the challenge of the real, the deep, the ultimate, the first and final question of life.  However, despite this "advantage" or secondary gain, they still leave us lost until eventually we are willing in humility to embrace the only God-given question we must answer:  "How can I love?"  (p. 1)

Although I'm not sure it fits into this reflection, as I was reading to find this little quote from Wicks, I also found this gem, borrowed from Anthony deMello:


To a disciple who was forever complaining about others the Master said, "If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people.  It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth."  (p. 4)


Lowell

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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org Our Rule of Life:  We aspire to...     worship weekly     pray daily     learn constantly     serve joyfully      live generously. Lowell Grisham, Rector St. Paul's Episcopal Church Fayetteville, Arkansas