This is a good meditation on the importance of living gracefilled life as opposed to a simply natural one:
From: The
Imitation of Christ
MY CHILD, pay careful attention to the
movements of nature and of grace, for they move in very contrary and subtle
ways, and can scarcely be distinguished by anyone except a man who is spiritual
and inwardly enlightened. All men, indeed, desire what is good, and strive for
what is good in their words and deeds. For this reason the appearance of good
deceives many.
Nature is crafty and attracts many, ensnaring and deceiving them
while ever seeking itself. But grace walks in simplicity, turns away from all
appearance of evil, offers no deceits, and does all purely for God in whom she
rests as her last end.
Nature is not willing to die, or to be kept down, or to be overcome.
Nor will it subdue itself or be made subject. Grace, on the contrary, strives
for mortification of self. She resists sensuality, seeks to be in subjection,
longs to be conquered, has no wish to use her own liberty, loves to be held
under discipline, and does not desire to rule over anyone, but wishes rather to
live, to stand, and to be always under God for Whose sake she is willing to bow
humbly to every human creature.
Nature works for its own interest and looks to the profit it can reap
from another. Grace does not consider what is useful and advantageous to
herself, but rather what is profitable to many. Nature likes to receive honor
and reverence, but grace faithfully attributes all honor and glory to God.
Nature fears shame and contempt, but grace is happy to suffer reproach for the
name of Jesus. Nature loves ease and physical rest. Grace, however, cannot bear
to be idle and embraces labor willingly.
Nature seeks to possess what is rare and beautiful, abhorring things
that are cheap and coarse. Grace, on the contrary, delights in simple, humble
things, not despising those that are rough, nor refusing to be clothed in old
garments. Nature has regard for temporal wealth and rejoices in earthly gains.
It is sad over a loss and irritated by a slight, injurious word. But grace looks
to eternal things and does not cling to those which are temporal, being neither
disturbed at loss nor angered by hard words, because she has placed her treasure
and joy in heaven where nothing is lost. Nature is covetous, and receives more
willingly than it gives. It loves to have its own private possessions. Grace,
however, is kind and openhearted. Grace shuns private interest, is contented
with little, and judges it more blessed to give than to receive.
Nature is inclined toward creatures, toward its own flesh, toward
vanities, and toward running about. But grace draws near to God and to virtue,
renounces creatures, hates the desires of the flesh, restrains her wanderings
and blushes at being seen in public.
Nature likes to have some external comfort in which it can take
sensual delight, but grace seeks consolation only in God, to find her delight in
the highest Good, above all visible things. Nature does everything for its own
gain and interest. It can do nothing without pay and hopes for its good deeds to
receive their equal or better, or else praise and favor. It is very desirous of
having its deeds and gifts highly regarded. Grace, however, seeks nothing
temporal, nor does she ask any recompense but God alone. Of temporal necessities
she asks no more than will serve to obtain eternity.
Nature rejoices in many friends and kinsfolk, glories in noble
position and birth, fawns on the powerful, flatters the rich, and applauds those
who are like itself. But grace loves even her enemies and is not puffed up at
having many friends. She does not think highly of either position or birth
unless there is also virtue there. She favors the poor in preference to the
rich. She sympathizes with the innocent rather than with the powerful. She
rejoices with the true man rather than with the deceitful, and is always
exhorting the good to strive for better gifts, to become like the Son of God by
practicing the virtues. Nature is quick to complain of need and trouble; grace
is stanch in suffering want.
Nature turns all things back to self. It fights and argues for self.
Grace brings all things back to God in Whom they have their source. To herself
she ascribes no good, nor is she arrogant or presumptuous. She is not
contentious. She does not prefer her own opinion to the opinion of others, but
in every matter of sense and thought submits herself to eternal wisdom and the
divine judgment. Nature has a relish for knowing secrets and hearing news. It
wishes to appear abroad and to have many sense experiences. It wishes to be
known and to do things for which it will be praised and admired.
But grace does not care to hear news or curious matters, because all
this arises from the old corruption of man, since there is nothing new, nothing
lasting on earth. Grace teaches, therefore, restraint of the senses, avoidance
of vain self-satisfaction and show, the humble hiding of deeds worthy of praise
and admiration, and the seeking in every thing and in every knowledge the fruit
of usefulness, the praise and honor of God. She will not have herself or hers
exalted, but desires that God Who bestows all simply out of love should be
blessed in His gifts. This grace is a supernatural light, a certain special gift
of God, the proper mark of the elect and the pledge of everlasting salvation. It
raises man up from earthly things to love the things of heaven. It makes a
spiritual man of a carnal one. The more, then, nature is held in check and
conquered, the more grace is given. Every day the interior man is reformed by
new visitations according to the image of God.
