Ordering Our Desires (Henri Nouwen)

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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.


* Sentences in red my own emphasis ...
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NIV Psalm 42:1 For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. 
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and
 6 my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-- from Mount Mizar.
 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
 8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life.
 9 I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Comments

  1. zApril 22, 2010 at 2:26 PM

    hahaha, coincidence again!! :) this one is understandable since i am now subscribed to the postings upon your rec.

    ReplyDelete

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