Wanting (Part 2)
I woke up thinking about what I wrote about in “Wanting (Part 1).”
I am struck by how much of my wanting is focused on me. Pretty much of all of what I want has to do with my own comfort, betterment, and convenience. Sure, I want the best for my wife and children, but outside of that, I’m pretty self-centered, it appears.
I wonder what it would be like to have the burdens and desires of Jesus’ heart beating in mine?
How would my answers to the question of “What do I want?” change? Would the first thing out of my mouth be:
- I want peace and comfort for the people of Syria and Egypt (or any other of the myriad places in the world where civil chaos dominates).
- I want the end of all wars.
- I want the end of human trafficking.
- I want all children to be fed and have clean water.
- I want affordable health care for all.
You get the gist.
Recently I’ve been using the prayers of St. Francis as a guide in my praying. I’m struck with how often he prays that all our desires and passions be consumed by the desires and concerns and love of God’s heart.
I have a ways to go.
thegoodenoughpastor 