Selfless

*SELFLESS/*SELF-EMPTYING - see SELF,

St. John of the Cross taught that "God does not fit in an occupied heart." We must do our part to free our hearts and minds from inadequate and distorted ideas and concepts about the Incomprehensible God, from desires for self-gratification in prayer, and from activities that prevent the peaceful inflow of God's loving presence into our hearts. We must learn to become passive, idle, tranquil, and lovingly attentive to God's presence. This requires letting go of our natural activity of knowing, loving, and feeling to allow God's purifying love to awaken and transform us. (Purif, p208)

Learning to be selfless demands a faith that can bear humiliation and see beyond the rewards of this life. The Lord's call was to deny ourselves security from anything but God. (Vanity, p69)

For example, a water fountain empties itself of the water only to have it return to itself. Also, note that even though the water goes in all directions (like God who is All), opposite directions are not opposed to the other, but add to the beauty with its diversity. (Randy)

As God has selflessly diversed His Spirit to be immanent in each of us, we should do the same and let go of our selfishness. (Randy, 2/6/09)