One of the fundamental beliefs within my own heart and soul as a person of faith is that which states that "our present life is a period of testing". Just as in the beginning, with our first parents, each of us is given a test in life. This test is related to personal allegiances and the orientation of our hearts. We are being tested "in love". In the book of revelation, reference is made to this "great period of testing", from which souls are drawn to "wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb".
For the past two hundred years or so, our world has become unbelievably complex and technological. Never before in all of history has there been an age like the one in which we are living presently. The human spirit can become enamored of many attractive activities, objects and sources of "entertainment". From my perspective, as one who sees life as a testing grounds, this technological complexity takes on an ominous appearance. Here is the basis of my perspective:
The human heart finds its sacred purpose and fulfillment through a prayerful and contemplative relationship with its Creator. As human beings, we grow in proportion to just how much our hearts are lovingly related to our God. This relationship is necessarily our first devotion in life and is sufficient unto itself as an exclusive source of happiness.
In this complicated world which surrounds us, relative to this fundamental purpose, we are being tested in relation to the many seductions of the present age. The activities, pastimes, material things and even ideas which we store up and "bring into our houses" have a powerful effect on us. These can easily derail us from our human identity and purpose. Our spirits become suffocated and dislocated from our most important goal.
I realize that there are other more positive ways at looking upon the contemporary world. And also, one might reasonably add that there is much "gray paint" in the mix, which precludes us from being too legalistic or judgmental of others in reference to this perspective. It is certainly possible that people can be "conquered" by the need to "play the world game" in order to live and provide for others. Their hearts may be in a good place, though their lives may be cluttered up. Nevertheless, as I see it, the ideal must be acknowledged, honored and striven for. That ideal is a humble, unselfish life of piety, simplicity, frugality, and detachment. THIS FORM OF LIFE IS PURE GIFT. If we become "predisposed" to the "gray paint" in the overall mix, as many do, we very likely will fall short of the goal of our life. But if we foster an urgent and unflagging desire for the ideal, so as to pass the test,we will pass into the realm of mercy in the end. God asks us: "Will you love Me or will you choose the world". We are being tested in Love.
1 comment:
i appreciate how you describe the possibility of the soul being suffocated......... by 'the world game' and all of the shiny, inviting potentially lethal clutter..... trying hard to cut myself off from much of that (detachment)........ i've likened my own soul's suffocation to a thinning of my psyche.... threadbare by all of the friction and rubbing of the 'world that's out there' and it's possibilities.............. to me, it seems that with so much information, so much choice and so much speed, intentional choices are crowded out......................................
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