Imitation of Christ: Thomas a Kempis

Have you read The Imitation of Christ? If you are like me, you probably have read snippets of it years ago. That's easy to do because his book is really just a collection of short(ish) reflections. It is a quite  manageable resource for brief meditation sessions. I picked up a copy of this to read one night when Doug and I stayed at Durward's Glen retreat center. I was so touched, I decided I needed my own copy. I've been pairing (or alternating) the Imitation with the daily readings in the Magnificat this summer and fall but our Magnificat subscription just ran out, so my thought is stick with mostly the Imitation until Advent or whenever I finish it and then go back to the Magnificat. Anyhow, all that to say that The Imitation of Christ has impacted me greatly this year. There are so many lessons that my heart is pondering (when I make space for that). So much of it is lofty. They are quite high ideals. But if one never looks at the goal, how will he begin in that direction? I'd like to share today's selection. It is exactly this sort of reflection that inspires me to look at my own life and slowly make improvements through God's grace. I hope you find it hits home for you as well.

How Good It Is for a Man to be Peaceful

First put yourself at peace, and then you may the better make others be at peace. A peaceful and patient man is of more profit to himself and to others, too, than a learned man who has no peace. A man who is passionate often turns good into evil, and easily believes the worst. But a good, peaceful man turns all things to the best, and suspects no man.

     He who is not content is often troubled with many suspicions, and is neither quiet himself nor allows others to be quiet. He often speaks what he should not, and fails to speak what it would be more expedient to say. He considers seriously what others are bound to do, but he grandly neglects that to which he himself is bound.

     First, therefore, have a zealous regard to yourself and to your own soul, and then you many more righteously and with better ordered charity have zeal for your neighbor's soul. You are at once ready to excuse your own defects, but you will not hear the excuses of your brethren. Truly, it would be more charitable and more profitable to you to accuse yourself and excuse your brother, for, if you will be borne, bear with others. Consider how far you yet are from the perfect humility and charity of Christian people, who cannot be angry with any except themselves.

     It is no great thing to get on well with good and docile men, for that is naturally pleasant to all people, and all men gladly have peace with those and most love those who are agreeable. But to live peacefully with evil men and with impertinent men who lack good manners and are illiterate and rub us the wrong way- that is a great grace, and a manly deed, and much to be praised, for it cannot  be done save through great spiritual strength. Some people can be quiet themselves, and live quietly with others, and some cannot be quiet themselves, not permit others to be quiet; they are grievous to others-they are more grievous to themselves. And some can keep themselves in good peace, and can also bring others to live in peace. Nevertheless, all our peace, while we are int his mortal life, rests more in the humble endurance of troubles and of things that are irksome to us than in not feeling them at all. For no man is here without some trouble. Therefore, he who can suffer best will have most peace, and he who is the true conquerer of himself is the true lord of the world, the friend of Christ, and the true inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. 

-Thomas a Kempis