Discipleship Letter 73 Feb. 7th, 2010
“To live in the present, we must believe deeply that what is most important is the here and the now. We are constantly distracted by things that have happened in the past or that might happen in the future. It is not easy to remain focused on the present. Our mind is hard to master and keeps pulling us away from the moment. Prayer is the discipline of the moment” [Henri Nouwen, Here and Now: Living in the Spirit (New York: Crossroad, 1994), pp. 20-21.].
We dwell in the past; we fantasize tomorrow. But it is not easy to live for today. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matt. 6:34). Anxiety is an existential reality. We are anxious. We worry. We are uncertain about tomorrow. But do we deal with our troubles today? Do we face them with courage, maturity, and responsibility today? What we do or don’t do today has something to contribute to tomorrow.
Don’t just pray to God for the future. God has already given us enough strength and wisdom today so that we can co-create with Him about our future. Often time our prayers remain unanswered because we fail to utilize our parts in the present. We pray for God’s sovereignty; we neglect human responsibility. To live in the present is difficult because to live in the present demands our daily persistent efforts.
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Discipleship Letter 74 Feb. 14th, 2010
“A split between divinity and humanity has taken place in you. With your divinely endowed center you know God’s will, God’s way, God’s love. But your humanity is cut off from that. Your many human needs for affection, attention, and consolation are living apart from your divine sacred space. Your call is to let these two parts of yourself come together again” [Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey through Anguish to Freedom (New York: Image Books, 1998), p. 7.].
As we grow older and become a bit less concerned about reputation, success, money, and career, the meaning and purpose of life begin to emerge from life. We’re less preoccupied by the outer world and yet more preoccupied by the inner complexity. As we grow older, we’re more aware of the split between divine affirmation and self-rejection.
In terms of Christian growth, we need to listen to our inner voice. What are we afraid of? What makes us doubt? Why are we so hesitant? The psalmist cried out inwardly, “Why am I discouraged? Why so sad?” (Ps. 42:5, 11; 43:5). Our inner voice has a unique place in Christian spirituality. It leads us to the “divine endowed center”—an inner tabernacle where we meet God. We come before the Lord with our inner voice. We pray to Him with groaning (See Rom. 8:26). We come to Him with a naked self—just as we are. Every time we intend to fake it before the Lord. We fail to fulfill our call, that is, to “let these two parts of yourself come together again.”
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