Did you know that the word positive literally means “that which has been placed” before you? That positive thinking is really the willingness to accept all that is given to us? So while we might scour the shelves of our local library for the perfect self-help book or tune in daily to our favorite TV therapist in order to find the key to positive living, we must go beyond techniques and learn how to be spiritual people who are constantly receptive to the gift of life. The irony is that we need to be negative in this process. We need to learn “to say no” to all of that which is not gift, all of that which is fear-based clinging, all of that which comes from the evil one. Trying to be positive without this negative move just does not work. In such a circumstance everything blends together and we stand for nothing. It is thus no wonder that the Christic pattern of our salvation is dying and rising. The radical positivity of resurrectional life – a state of eternally accepting the truth – is only ever made possible through the radical negativity of Christ’s cross – an unceasing commitment to self-denial. May our hearts thus become tables which are capable of receiving all that is presented to us precisely because they are already altars of sacrifice. Ave Crux, Spes Unica.
September 11, 2021
Published
Amen to this Brothers!
“…the key to positive living, we must go beyond techniques and learn how to be spiritual people who are constantly receptive to the gift of life. The irony is that we need to be negative in this process. We need to learn “to say no” to all of that which is not gift, all of that which is fear-based clinging, all of that which comes from the evil one. ”
Peace and prayers,
Margie
Thanks Margie!
As an English teacher, this reminds me that to improve a piece of writing you have to “say no” to the passages that don’t work, and replace those sections with new writing that says more exactly what you want to say.
Hey Jack, thanks for your insight, this I believe is the paschal pattern that is the core of human dignity and applies to every aspect of our life (if we let it!).