(no subject)
"remember always, that He really likes the little vermin, and sets and absurd value on the distinctness of every one of them. when He talks of their losing their selves, He only means abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that, He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts (I am afraid, sincerely) that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves than ever. hence, while He is delighted to see them sacrificing even their innocent wills to His, He hates to see them drifting away from their own nature for any other reason. and we should always encourage them to do so."
exerpt from The Screwtape Letters
"we want a whole race perpetually in pursuit of the rainbow's end, never honest, nor kind, nor happy now, but always using as mere fuel wherewith to heap the altar of the future every real gift which is offered them in the Present. it follows then, in general, and other things being equal, that it is better for yourpatient to be filled with anxiety or hope (it doesn't much matter which) about this war than for him to be living in the present. but the phrase 'living in the present' is ambiguous. it may describe a prcoess which is really just as much concerned with the Future as anxiety itself. your man may be untroubled about the Future, not becausehe is concerned with the Present, but because he has persuaded himself that the Future is going tobe agreeable. as long as that is the real cause of his tranquillity, his tranquillity will do us good, because it is only piling up more disappointment, and therefore more impatience, for him when his false hopes are dashed. if, on the other hand, is is aware that horrors may be in store for him and is praying for the virtues, wherewith to meet them, and meanwhile concerning himself with the Present because there, and there alone, all duty, all grace, all knowledge, and all pleasure dwell, his state is very undesirable and should be attacked at once."
exerpt from The Screwtape Letters
it haunts me so, this gloomy weight that comes and goes without a trace. a thousand times my flesh embrace; a thousand more but if for grace. to see the Lord, the promise land where in all sins pearly gates look bland andwhat was once a pearl now sand that blows away in light of Him. when battle lines become unclear and the waging war is all I hear, Lord, sustain me with Your voice and the choice to walk in Truth. that I might see this day, this wagingwar might go away and be no more. that I might see His face and hear Him say, "daughter, welcome home. the war is over." to see the Lord, the promise land where in all sins and pearly gates look bland and what was once a pearl now sand that blows away in light of Him. oh, go away, go away, go away in light of Him. oh, blow away, oh waging war of sin.
O, that I had the wings of a dove. I would fly away to my place of safety.
forgetting what is behing, and straining toward what is ahead.