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“Drop It At Once”
“…A certain Christian thought it was of vital importance to be poor and austere. It had never dawned on him that the vitally important thing was to drop his ego, that the ego fattens on holiness just as much as on worldliness, on poverty as on riches, on austerity as on luxury. There is nothing the ego will not seize upon to inflate itself.
DISCIPLE: ”I have come to you with nothing in my hands.”
MASTER: ”Drop it at once.”
DISCIPLE: ”But how can I drop it? It is nothing.”
MASTER: ”Then carry it around with you! You can make a possession of your nothing. And carry your renunciation around you like a trophy. Don’t drop your possessions. Drop your ego.”…”
Anthony DeMello – The Song Of The Bird
Thoughts?
Interesting…reminds me of Matt 6:1-6 and Matt 6:16-18. Making a show of your piety makes it less about “look at Him” and more about “look at me.”
I agree with Dan. Check your ego at the door.
I worked for a nonprofit in college and my boss had spent many years in urban ministry. One day I was going on and on about the materialism apparent in a certain neighborhood. He just looked at me and said “being poor doesn’t make you holy.” That’s stuck with me since.
This is not about me. Or what I have. It is about furthering the message & everything I say or do should not come from me but through me as a messenger for God. Being human doesn’t work well with that kind of ideal disciple, but taking the “I” out of the equation helps. It’s hard sometimes. Taking that step of faith & humility.
Amen, Shellie…taking the “I” out of the equation is the biggest step…and it is a HUGE step of faith…to truly ask God to use us and take us where He wants to-even if was not in our plan/idea or what we thought. His plans and ways are SO much better than mine-it is ALL about Him and His glory-whether we are rich or poor-we should offer all we have to God and let Him use it.
Good thoughts…
Love this. I have known a few who have had such pride in their own piety and sacrifice, I never saw the Lord. Only their ego.