incredibly free, but not without danger...

Further reflections on Devotion 11...

Thomas suggests that Peace will be found when we "Direct [our] every intention toward pleasing [God] alone"...

in some ways this makes space for incredible freedom... We can say no to many things on the basis that it is not concerned with pleasing God. The idea of living to please God alone strikes me as a very much less busy life than the one I now lead.

Perhaps for some people the idea of pleasing God would take them out of their comfort zone and into new committments and new areas of activity and service. But for me, the comfort zone i would have to leave is the comfort of activity and business. Actions speak louder than words in the world of achievement. And there's a big spot-light on our lives, esp. those who live in the public eye. Busy-ness and activity is the place where I hide my fear of insignificance.

and the danger...? well, most people I know who claim (very overtly) to be living to please God alone seem very much like they are using that goal as a way out of having to face some very real challenges in their lives. For instance, the person who "shares his faith" in an objectionable and aggressive way makes no friends, but claims that he is willing to handle the "persecution" because he "seeks to please God alone"... there's a problem there! How can we seee to please God alone without using that powerful idea for our own agenda...?