'It is an error to desire martyrdom without having enough courage to bear an insult. The enemy often arouses in us ardent desires for things that are absent and may never come our way. It is to turn our mind away from present objects from which, however small they may be, we could draw much profit.
In imagination, we fight monsters in Africa. But in fact, due to lack of attention, we allow ourselves to be killed by little serpents on our way.' (St. Francis de Sales)
Hendrick ter Brugghen painting, public domain
Lol...I love these quotes!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it sometimes so difficult to focus on the present when in reality that is all there really is? The past is gone, the future doesn't exist yet and yet we stumble around in both at times losing the minute we are in.
Well, I do at least ;)
And I do too. O yes....
DeleteThanks, Mary!
Brilliant! C. S. Lewis talked about this type of snare in The Screwtape Letters too! In reference to Charity, the devil wants us to cast WAY out to China or Africa or far, far away, where we can't smell the poor, sick people. In the meantime, we have elderly neighbors whom we don't even speak to!
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning the Screwtape Letters, because I've been intending to re-read that (haven't in years). What a great point Lewis made - thanks for sharing it here!
DeleteReally good stuff here. I can't say I ever wanted to be a martyr as for as dying a bloody death. I lack courage just to face every day battles and do things I feel are painful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Monica. The everyday battles really wear me down!
Delete