Colossians 3:2-3: “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
There are times we Christians forget this, both in our pilgrimage life and in our other life.
Read morethe true self’s non-focus
“The worth and meaning of every ascetic practice are to be estimated in terms of quietude, lucidity of spirit, love, and purity of heart. Anything that does not lead to these is worthless, for instead of liberating us from self-preoccupation, it only reinforces our illusory and obsessive concern with our own ego and its victory over the ‘not-I.’ True quietude and purity of heart are impossible where this division of the ‘I’ (considered as right and good) and the ‘not-I’ (considered as threatening) governs our conduct and our decisions.”
Merton, Thomas. “The Spiritual Father in the Desert Tradition.” (1968) in Selected Essays. Edited with an introduction by Patrick F. O’Connell. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2013, p. 320
on reading about contemplation
“If, then, you are intent on ‘becoming a contemplative’ you will probably waste your time and do yourself considerable harm by reading this book. But if in some sense you are already a contemplative (whether you know it or not makes little difference), you will perhaps not only read the book with a kind of obscure awareness that it is meant for you, but you may even find yourself having to read the thing whether it fits in with your plans or not. In that event, just read it. Do not watch for results, for they will already have been produced long before you will be capable of seeing them. And pray for me, because from now on we are, in some strange way, good friends.”
Merton, Thomas. The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation. Edited and with an Introduction by William H. Shannon. NY: HarperOne, 2003 (NOTE: Merton wrote this in 1959!), pp. 2-3
true self, free self
“Once you have faced your own hidden or denied self, there is not much to be anxious about anymore, because there is not fear of exposure–to yourself or others. The game is over–and you are free. You have now become the ‘holy fool’ of legend and story, which Paul seems to say is the final stage (2 Corinthians 11), when there is no longer any persona or project. You finally are who you are, and can be who you are, without disguise or fear.”
Rohr, Richard. Falling Upward: a Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011, p. 134
Comment: Not having to defend, and not having to go on the offense either, means that the game is over. You’re freed from its rules, from its ticking clock, from the intrusive noise of the crowds. Your true self emerges from behind the uniform and protective padding. Take a breath. See what’s up ahead now. Enjoy!
the true self and your vocation
"The discovery of our true self does not simply produce freedom. It also generates vocation. … First, we are called to be human beings. … A second level of calling is to be Christians. …
“But we can also think of our calling in terms of our mission in the world, the way of living out our uniqueness within the more general call to become fully human as we follow Jesus toward union with God. Gordon Smith notes that–much bigger than a career, job or occupation–our unique calling will be based on our gifts and abilities, will grow out of our deepest desires, and will always involve some response to the needs of the world.”
Benner, David G. The Gift of Being Yourself. Expanded ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2015, pp. 87-88.
first steps in spirituality
“The stage of purgation is characterized by the struggle of two selves: the self that is not yet all it has been created to be in God’s will for our wholeness, and the wholeness of self that God holds out before us. The old, anxious, egocentric self is called to increasing mortification in order that the new, peace-filled, God-centered self may come more and more into being.”
Mulholland, M. Robert, Jr. Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. Foreword, Practices and Study Guide by Ruth Haley Barton. Expanded edition. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016, p.108.
true self and one’s vocation
“Body and soul contain thousands of possibilities out of which you can build many identities. But in only one of these will you find your true self that has been hidden in Christ from all eternity. Only in one will you discover your unique vocation and deepest fulfillment. … We all live searching for that one possible way of being that carries with it the gift of authenticity. We are most conscious of this search for identity during adolescence, when it takes front stage.”
Benner, David G. The Gift of Being Yourself. Expanded ed. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Books, 2015, p. 16.
Comment: Benner unites the true self with one’s vocation. He also says here that there is only one single possible identity where a person can find his or her unique vocation. Out of the “thousands of possibilities” you’re born with.
This sounds narrow and exclusionary to me. Unless the true self is simply the saved self and the true vocation is simply the vocation of being in love with God. Then the true self and vocation can blossom and be freely expressed in myriads of ways, different from anyone else and even different from myself in the past or future. They are at the same time quite specific to the individual and not at all specific.
from true self to vocation
"The discovery of our true self does not simply produce freedom. It also generates vocation. …
"First, we are called to be human beings. … (p. 87)
"A second level of calling is to be Christians. …
“But we can also think of our calling in terms of our mission in the world, the way of living out our uniqueness within the more general call to become fully human as we follow Jesus toward union with God. Gordon Smith notes that–much bigger than a career, job or occupation–our unique calling will be based on our gifts and abilities, will grow out of our deepest desires, and will always involve some response to the needs of the world.” (p. 88)
Benner, David G. The Gift of Being Yourself. Expanded ed. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Books, 2015.
The true self is not your vocation, not your life’s purpose. But knowing your true self can reveal your vocation. That’s where your unique mixture of gifts and interests in your unique place and time blossom and bear fruit. Finding the vocation starts with recognizing your core identity as a loved and redeemed child of God.
the true self and contemplation
“Aligning contemplative practices with this self-awareness brings about incredible personal liberation. Taking time to pause and create a spirituality marked by solitude, silence, and stillness reminds us who we truly are, in the best sense of our True Self.”
Heuertz, Christopher L. The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2017, p. 181.
When I first copied this note, I titled it “freedom in and from contemplation.” I don’t know now whether I meant ‘from’ as in ‘as a result of’ or as in ‘that protects us against.’ Maybe both senses of ‘from’ work. I mean, we don’t want to just pile on another legalism that demands we do contemplative practice this way or not at all. Where would the Gospel be in that?
true self and contemplation
“When we give ourselves to contemplative practices marked by solitude, silence, and stillness, our souls are nurtured, our Virtues blossom, and our True Self comes forward. Contemplative spirituality calms the body, stills the emotions, and quiets the mind. And in so doing, it liberates us from ego addictions, thereby giving us the freedom to make major corrections to our behaviors informed by our True Self.”
Heuertz, Christopher L. The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2017), p. 183.
Pathology: the Study of a Path 