If you desire to walk a true, spiritual, contemplative life in this world, you must walk with your eyes closed, trusting in the Lord Jesus whose hand you hold. At the moment you open your eyes you will be buffeted with personal desires, both of the flesh and the mind, you will envy and covet, you will witness strife, turmoil, suffering and death. All the things of this world, either from within or without, will assail you, doubt will enter, trust will decrease.
The wisdom of the world will call constantly, offering peace and comfort, a respite from the continual obedience to the will of God, pleasures never permanent, but yours to have for the asking. Nothing is sweeter to Satan than a saint in sin. The temporary sweet smell of the flowers will silence your thoughts of the fire they will feed tomorrow, the sand will feel pleasant between your toes, but it will offer no firm, eternal foundation. The sweetness of wine will remove the cares of the world, the taste of fine foods will hide the bitterness of life, the thoughts of the world are offered freely and to all who will but stifle the soul, cease debating the spiritual, to all who will see only with their mortal eyes. Pain and hardship can be abated with pills and false hope, sorrow can be quenched with entertainment, doubt and depression can be abated with the hope of tomorrow.
The cell doors are always open in the world, but the prison gates are securely locked, admittance is granted to all, but none may leave save by the grave. Rest is assured only when the grindstone has been whetted, when the toil of a life of labor has taken its toll on the frail flesh, the rest of eternal silence of the grave is sought by the broken. The roads are well traveled, and the ruts show the path of the weary, the downtrodden, and the rich follow behind them. Their eyes are wide open, but they all sleepwalk from one task to the next, seeking compensation and recognition for the same tasks that were done by others before them. The certificates and accolades are hung on walls of peeling paint, hiding the cracks of life that let the light of loss shine thru. Their eyes look, but never see, all is wanted, but little can be attained, yet what they presume to own they chain to their bodies with many locks, not seeing the sinking ground they walk on. They defend vehemently what is theirs, and share with only those who can benefit them in some way, selling only to the highest bidder. The mountain must be climbed, the higher up, the more their admiration of themselves grows, they seek a deserved arrogancy.
They are at war constantly, the wisdom of the world is their sword, strong allegiance to self is their shield, and the prize of the battle is the subservience of others. They flee from time with all the speed they can muster, running headlong into the mist of an unknown future, careful only of the traps of others who desire their downfall, who want the pre-eminence of their position. The one who stands on the pile of the bodies of others will see only more as they climb the dead to usurp him.
Those who have kept their eyes closed do not seek the ways of the world, they do not stray from the firm footing of the path that the Lord has laid before them. They see only the lost, and know within themselves a desire to serve them, to help them, to pull them from the sinking footing onto the firm foundation at the foot of the cross. Their brothers and sisters in Christ are in their view, their needs are His needs, their suffering he is willing to suffer. The light of the glory of the Lamb is their assurance, his hand never leaves theirs, they trust and obey. Death is no more than a door at the end of the path, and their Lord’s firm grip never lessons as they pass thru it. Trust and be still and know that He is God, and watch as the world begins to fade away, and the path will become so very clear. Close your eyes to the ways of the world, and your eyes will be set on the kingdom of God.
