“By the constant ascent of his mind to God, he is more and more enlightened by the rays issuing forth from Him, until he eventually becomes the habitation of God.”
The Effect of Remembrance
When you are alone, what do your thoughts dwell on? A number of years ago, I had been asked to drop a friend off at the local ferry terminal. Within a few hours of agreeing, my wife and I had been invited over for dinner by a couple we rarely were able to spend time with. The times were in conflict. I consented joyfully and completely forgot about the promised ferry terminal trip.
My ferry-terminal ride friend texted me around the time of pickup and sent me scrambling to re-adjust plans. I had really been looking forward to sharing a meal with the other family. Rushing, I dropped off my family at our friend’s house and drove as quickly as I could to take my other friend to the ferry terminal. As I pulled through the drop-off zone, hundreds of cars piled off the ferry that had just arrived. By the time I had dropped him off, the ferry was empty and I was the last car in a long line of vehicles driving back towards the city.
To make matters worse, construction crews were working on a major intersection just down the road. The traffic lights had been set to only let a few cars through at a time. I was stuck in that line for over an hour.
As time passed, my frustration grew. By the time I made it close to the intersection, I was hot with anger towards those crews. “Why today?!” I yelled silently inside. When I pulled up to the light, exasperated, and finally about to get through, the Lord spoke to me.
“What if I arranged all of this just to have a little more time with you?.”
When Jesus asked us to “Do this in remembrance of me,” was he merely inviting us to spend some time in personal self-reflection? Or was it far deeper? When I was in that long line of cars frustrated, my mind was filled with many thoughts. None of them drew me toward Him. Spiritual disciplines are integral to developing a heart that remembers God.
The battle over anxiety and frustration is not won in the moment of the fight, it is won by carefully cultivating a heart that dwells upon the presence of God. Only then, aided by grace, will we have the strength to turn away from that which angers and vexes us and fall into His life-giving embrace.
“Sit in your cell, keeping your mind free from every earthly or worldly thought and care, and fall with abundant tears before God; then you will surely find spiritual rest.” ~ Abba Sisoes
I’ll see you again tomorrow as we learn to recognize The Effects of a Watchful Heart.
Blessings,
Joshua Hoffert
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
When was a time in your life when it has been easier to live your life on autopilot than to enter and engage with your thoughts and feelings?
Where are you more present to worry, regret, or fantasy futures than to God’s love and care for you?
How do you respond to judgments people make about you? How does judging others make you feel?