Thursday, June 30, 2016

soul surgery

Lewis tells us today that the kind of change we really, truly need can only be performed by God. He tells us this in A Year with C.S. Lewis.

Only God can transform our hearts and help us to not just do the right thing, but to do it for the right reason. He says we can't change our will... we can't adjust our temperament. And, to some extent, I think that's true.

I'm told by wiser and holier minds than mine that there are two ways that God performs this kind of "soul surgery", where He changes us from the inside out. One way is through suffering. The other way is through spending time with Him.

Personally, I don't like suffering. Whatever Mary Ruefle might say (in the quote above), suffering isn't fun. I would rather spend time with Him. So that's what I do. Not because I'm holier than anyone else. Believe me, I'm not. I'm a silly, selfish little sinner. But I know that He can make me a better man. And I know that spending time with Him (for me, that means daily mass, Eucharistic adoration, and my daily prayer walk because I'm a crazy Catholic. This might mean something else in your experience) will help me to become the person He wants me to be with less of that nasty suffering.

God, please help us to be more like You. What suffering comes our way, please use it for our good. And help us to spend more time with You, so we can be transformed.

4 comments:

Julie said...

I'll take spending more time over suffering any time!

Katy said...

Please do! Missing Mass: missing the greatest prayer in the world is heartbreaking! Please pray for us who are suffering, who are hopefully offering prayers of redemptive suffering, for we'd much rather be closer to Him in The Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Unknown said...

I spent time with Him. I have FAITH, LOVE and I TRUST Him. But the more I prayed, the more trials come in my ways. Though I have many questions but I believe. I know there is a value of suffering that He want me to see.

Unknown said...

I spent time with Him. I have FAITH, LOVE and I TRUST Him. But the more I prayed, the more trials come in my ways. Though I have many questions but I believe. I know there is a value of suffering that He want me to see.