Lenten devotional - day 27

I’m not doing these daily as I hoped I would. Such is the nature of Lent. Sometimes I take two steps forward then a couple of steps back in my journey of transforming into the image in which I was made—the image of God.

I feel like I’ve taken a couple of steps back recently. So forgive the amount of quotes I’m about to use today. I am going to the masters to help guide me.

"The spiritual life is not a theory, it is not a concept to be philosophized about; it is a life to be lived." - Thomas Merton

As we journey through Lent and beyond, it's important to remember that spiritual transformation is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process. It requires effort and commitment to live out the teachings of Christ, even when we stumble along the way. As Merton reminds us, the spiritual life is not just an intellectual exercise, but a way of living.

"Fall seven times, stand up eight." - Japanese proverb

When we inevitably stumble in our spiritual journey, it's important to keep getting back up and moving forward. This quote reminds us that resilience and persistence are key qualities to cultivate as we strive to follow Christ.

"We are not called to be successful, but faithful." - Mother Teresa

It's easy to get caught up in the idea of achieving some kind of spiritual "success," but Mother Teresa reminds us that faithfulness is what truly matters. When we stumble, it's not about achieving perfection or even immediate progress, but about remaining committed to the path and trusting in God's grace to carry us forward.

The path of transformation is not an easy one, and it requires ongoing effort and commitment. It is said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," and so it is with our spiritual journey. Each time we stumble, we are reminded that growth and transformation are not a one-time event, but a continual process.

As the mystic Meister Eckhart said, "The seed of God is in us. Given an intelligent and hard-working farmer, it will thrive and grow up to God, whose seed it is; and accordingly its fruits will be God-nature." Our commitment to transformation requires us to constantly tend to the seed of God within us, nourishing it with prayer, reflection, and action. And even when we stumble, we must trust that the seed is still there, waiting for us to get up and continue on the journey towards our true nature in God.

I don’t know how you’re doing, but I know I am getting back up and trying again. If you feel like you are failing here is one more quote from Nelson Mandela, "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

Maybe that is why Lent ends with Easter, to remind us that like Jesus, we rise.
Until tomorrow perhaps,

Until tomorrow now my friend,
Garrett