Progress

I recently read some material that caught my attention immediately.  Sometimes we come across an idea or an expression that seems to be right on target.  Here is what I read...


"When someone desires a thing too much, they at once become ill at ease.  A proud and avaricious person never rests, whereas those who are poor and humble of heart live in a peaceful world.  Individuals not yet dead to themselves are easily tempted and quite overcome by small and trifling evils.  Their spirit is weak and still in the thrall of the senses and physical passions.  They struggle to abstain from worldly desires, and so are upset when denied them, and so quickly angered if reproved by anyone.  Yet when they grasp their desires, they are overwhelmed with a heavy conscience; because though they followed their passions, they did not find peace.
True peace of heart is found in resisting passions, not in satisfying them.  There is no peace in the being of a worldly individual, given over to external attractions; but there is peace in the one who is fervent and spiritual."

The writer of those words has his finger on that which causes so much heartache in the lives of countless people today.  It is as if he has been eavesdropping in the office of counselors dealing with couples who have seen their relationship tainted by infidelity.  Perhaps he was overhearing the conversation of someone who has lost everything in the quest to make more money, buy a bigger house or a bigger car.  Maybe he was sitting in as a pastor gets a phone call about a church member who has decided to leave a congregation because the church "just doesn't seem to be meeting my needs."  Such passion for personal satisfaction and pleasure is the hallmark of our society today, isn't it?  In reality, the quotation above came from Thomas a Kempis.  He wrote them most likely in the early 15th century (the first manuscript of the work appeared in 1418), long before Columbus sailed from Spain or Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenburg church.  If you want to read it for yourself, the book is "The Imitation of Christ."  You can find the words in Book One, chapter 6.  It was originally written in Latin, but the words above came from a new edition from Simon Parke that was published in 2011.

We like to think that we invariably make progress in our lives.  We learn more things about the world around us.  We think that each successive generation is better, smarter, more accomplished than the one that went before.  Isn't it interesting to discover that the essential nature of human beings has not changed in 600 years?  "The Imitation of Christ" was written during a period of history we call "The Dark Ages."  This was supposed to be a time when Europe was in the doldrums politically, intellectually, artistically and spiritually.  What does it say about 21st century society when we have not progressed toward spiritual and emotional contentment beyond where we were in the Dark Ages?

The truth we find in the Scriptures, in the 15th century reflections of Thomas a Kempis or even in the writing of contemporary authors today has not changed.  The greatest contentment and spiritual fulfillment is found in devotion, first to God, then to others and lastly to ourselves.  For all our supposed progress, far too many of us have failed to grasp that point, even today.  Not impressed comparing today with 600 years ago?  Go back 2000 year and hear Jesus speak about true contentment... "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Matthew 16:26).  Still not impressed?  Go back around 2500 years and hear Solomon say, "Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with vexation and chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 4:6)

True progress, measured in peace and contentment, comes only when we understand that there is no possession that can bring us real happiness.  No matter how much we get, how powerful or prominent we become, no matter how nicely things "line up" in our lives, we will not be truly content until we are content within.  The words of Thomas a Kempis are as true today as they were 600 years ago, "There is no peace in the being of a worldly individual, given over to external attractions; but there is peace in the one who is fervent and spiritual."  When we understand that, maybe we will have finally, for all our accomplishments, truly made progress.