A Heart-Healthy Rhythm

Renunciation and participation are the rhythms of a healthy spiritual heart. The poor in spirit are those who renounce pride, acclaim and fame and embrace humility. The poverty of spirit is the recognition that one’s inner temple is vacant without the Holy Spirit. Those who are poor in spirit separate and devote themselves to God. Mourners not only weep for themselves and their tendency to fall short of the glory of God, but their tears are for a fallen world as well. This comes from their participation in society.

Renunciation alone is spiritual suicide. Participation alone is spiritual death by suffocation. Mystics tend to the first, while activists the second. But the spiritually healthy person practices renunciation and participation, separation and involvement.

Before sunrise, Jesus separates Himself and goes to a hidden place to pray. But in the searing daylight, He is out with the people. This is the rhythmic syncopation of a healthy heart.

Today’s Focus
Pray for balance in your life.  If you tend to the ascetic, ask the Father to give you a heart for others.  If you are most often an activist, ask the Lord to give you a hunger to be separated unto Him.