On the Road to a Devout Life

I have finished reading Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis De Sales. My only regret is that I delayed picking up the book. The book is filled with insight and directions describing how to live a life of devoted service to God. It is a short book which everybody should read and apply to their lives. All the vices, which were present at the creation of the book, are still around and are creating havoc and confusion in our lives.

Putting the examinations into practice will be another challenge. Exploring our minds is often a little frightening. But taking time to study how and why some decisions were made, to label some activities as sin or not, to understand our love for God and his love for us, and to unravel our sense of vocation and service to God will make us better, more faithful loving Christians.

It is not my intent to provide a book review. This book does not need one. Modern life is one large print advertisement for the best life that money can create. The messages are often in conflict, our desires are often confused. Advertising creates a hollowness, a perpetual uneasiness as we wait for the next product which will do more, make us cleaner, smell better, look better. Sometime the uneasiness leads to sin.

Life is better when there is a focus. It is easier to move through each day when a goal is clearly visible. When our faith and belief in God are allowed to lead us, the journey is simpler. We know where we are going, no maps are needed.

This journey stands in direct opposition to all that which is modern, scientific, based upon consumerism, individualistic. The difficulty of this journey begins and ends with us and what lives inside of us. How and what we love are very important! How we view good and evil is very important! How we describe and deal with sin is very important.

When we believe in God we accept the knowledge that there are other believers. We must reach out to others for guidance and help sometimes. Doing this can strength our Faith in God. It is comforting to know that there are others out there trying to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

Now, my mind is racing all around, filled with ideas of how to put the book into practice. Part of me is ready to begin meditating. My soul is trying to prepare a way for me to commune with God which can be integrated into my life and become an important component of my being.

Life provides many questions. Faith encourages me to enter into a time of serious discernment as I search for both questions and then answers about the best way to love God and to be of service to him and to the Church.