Ordering Our Desires
Desire is often talked about as something we ought to overcome. Still, being is desiring: our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our souls are full of desires. Some are unruly, turbulent, and very distracting; some make us think deep thoughts and see great visions; some teach us how to love; and some keep us searching for God. Our desire for God is the desire that should guide all other desires. Otherwise our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls become one another's enemies and our inner lives become chaotic, leading us to despair and self-destruction.Spiritual disciplines are not ways to eradicate all our desires but ways to order them so that they can serve one another and together serve God.
Desire is often talked about as something we ought to overcome. Still, being is desiring: our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our souls are full of desires. Some are unruly, turbulent, and very distracting; some make us think deep thoughts and see great visions; some teach us how to love; and some keep us searching for God. Our desire for God is the desire that should guide all other desires. Otherwise our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls become one another's enemies and our inner lives become chaotic, leading us to despair and self-destruction.Spiritual disciplines are not ways to eradicate all our desires but ways to order them so that they can serve one another and together serve God.
-Henri Nouwen
1 comment:
Hi Micah,
I look forward to reading more. I hope you do keep posting! I love the idea of sharing bits of thoughts with friends, connecting even though we are all so far apart.
It has taken me a long time to acknowledge desire and allow it a place without feeling guilty. Well, some desires, anyway. I really like the quote from Nouwen on ordering desires. This was one of the great insights for me as I experienced the Ignation exercises. It has made life a lot less fraught!
Keep on writing! Love you!
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