Life Beyond Life.

...more than gold.

"Success,  notoriety, affection, future plans, entertainment, satisfying work, health, intellectual stimulation, emotional support - yes, even spiritual progress - none of these can be clung to as if they are essential for survival. Only as you let go of them can you discover the true freedom your heart most desires. "

When I read this in Nouwen's book, I immediately thought of the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl. It is, as always, easier said than done but it does make sense that we should cling only to God.  Dying to self and finding life in God - Matthew 10:39.

Near the final chapters, Nouwen says that "finding treasure without being ready yet to fully own it will make you restless. This is the restlessness of the search for God. It is the way to holiness."  Dear reader, let us be ready, let us be watchful of these things that try to own our hearts, and let us embrace the restlessness. Take your restlessness as a sign that God is calling you to grow deeper in Him.  At the same time we shouldn't worry about who we should become or we fail trust God and miss what He is doing right now.

I don't know about you but I'm trying to digest all this and I am quite overwhelmed.  It is a hard call which we are to follow but it probably wouldn't be worth doing if it wasn't. We can't be afraid to do hard things. Doing hard things is something I normally shy away from but I'm constantly working to right that. I pray that you can also be fearless in the face of hardship.

"If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great." - Tom Hanks

*Last post on Henri Nouwen's book which I started 40days ago.