Thelma Hall writes in her excellent little book, Too deep for words: rediscovering Lectio Divina…
For the prospect of transformation to a life of love has for us the intimation and attraction of an ultimate truth: it is in the surrender of my false self with its claim of full autonomy, and in letting love become the dynamic central reality of my life, that my true self will be most fully realized. But this means beginning to follow Jesus along a path which must take me in a direction directly opposite to my instinctive self-oriented choices. It is “shifting my center,” away from my self, to self-giving, in love. This is precisely Jesus’ meaning — that I only discover who I am and possess my true identity by “losing myself” for his sake.
This deeply challenged me. What this quote (and of course Jesus Himself in the gospels) implies is that I need to stop worrying and come to him every morning with the question, “Who can I sacrifice my life and time for today in loving service?” Wow!
Ain’t that something… Can it really be that simple and that complex at the same time?
Do yourself a favor and buy Thelma’s book. Lectio Divina is in my opinion a life-altering, spirit-growing practice that connects us to God in an amazing way… And we managed to lose it somewhere along the way.
