Here is another of Anthony DeMello’s little stories from “One Minute Wisdom”. I’ll be posting a few of them over the months. For some background, check the posting in this Blog for Nov 25, 2011 One Minute Wisdom
Vigilance
The disciple asks the master:
“Is there anything I can do to make myself enlightened?”
“As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning.”
“Then of what use are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?”
“To make sure that you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise.”
Jesus challenges us in parables to stay awake. (Matt 25:13)
How delicious it is to be awake. It isn’t the opposite of fighting off sleep.
Oddly enough being ‘awake’ to the love of God has the effect of being rested!
Often we are like the disciple, wanting to create a ‘state of being’ in ourselves, like peace or joy or happiness or enlightenment. We cannot do this. We can do the real ‘work’ in our prayer life of surrender, acceptance, gratitude or compassion so that we are awake.
Do a quick personal inventory of your ‘spiritual exercise’:
- What have you done already today ‘... to make sure you are not asleep’?
- Do you need to add anything today?
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