In the book Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life, Henri Nouwen writes that although money, power, and sex are great temptations, "I wonder if the greatest temptation is self-rejection. Could it be that beneath all the lures to greed, lust, and success rests a great fear of never being enough or not being lovable? Instead of taking a careful look at the circumstances or trying to understand my own and others' limitations without rejection or judgment, when I fall into temptation, I tend to blame myself--not just for what I did but for who I am. My dark side says, "I am no good. I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned." Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us God's beloved."
1 Comment
Deanna
4/27/2015 02:40:38 am
This is a great revelation for me! When my daughter asks me why people would disregard the earth's heath, or behave so poorly to other people- what it came down to from my view, was greed and lust. However, this makes perfect sense: what's beneath it?
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AuthorTarn Wilson is the author of the memoir The Slow Farm and numerous essays. You may read more of her work at tarnwilson.com. Archives
September 2020
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