Book 01: Sect. 01: Ch. 04: Prudence in Action

Shiann · #1 Aug 16, '05, 2:41 pm

Thoughts Helpful in the Life of a Soul:

Prudence in Action

The online version of Section 1: Chapter 4 is available here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.ONE.4.html

WanderAimlessly · #2 Aug 16, '05, 7:02 pm

Look before you leap. How many times to we rush to judgment about something or someone? For me, it is way too often (mainly when I am driving). It is one thing (of many things) I have to work on.

Prudence is one of the Cardinal Virtues. It allows us to make the correct decision on a matter. If you are not sure of something, check with someone you trust. By living by God’s Word, prudence should become second nature.

PF

**Ani Ibi** · #3 Aug 17, '05, 7:33 am

DO NOT yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God’s will.

The word 'every' here is the key for me. I have become a Hamlet. My engineering training doesn't help. Faced with a problem, I tend to overanalyze it which then inflates the problem in my mind and makes me want to give up.

I need to more evenly apply the 'good enough' test to any course of action. But most of all I need to experiment and try things, trusting that God is watching and will tweak my errors quickly.

Insanity is doing the same things expecting different results.

contemplative · #4 Aug 17, '05, 8:30 am

IOC
Book 1
Chapter 4
On Being Prudent in What We Accept and Do

Do you often hear these days "Only fools enter where these angels fear to tread"?
I have often repeated this to myself over the years. It is a simple gentle reminder to NOT yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God’s will.

Giannawannabe · #5 Aug 17, '05, 9:52 am

Do not yeild to every impulse and suggestion, but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's Will.

I am impatient. I am indecisive. I tend to "bounce" ideas off every person close to me--getting a grand variety of opinions, ideas and advice in the process. I pray last. I need to be more discerning in the people I ask for advice. More importantly, I need to pray first, trying to discern God's will for my life, instead of my own will.

It seems I speak most ill of those I wish to help the most. My brother has fallen away from The Church. He has made materialism, alcohol, and love of sensual pleasure his gods. I have made a mission of bringing him back through prayer, fasting, sacrifice, and example. However, just the other day I found myself complaining about him to my SIL. As soon as the words escaped my mouth, I regretted it. Why can't I think first and consider what I wish to say in the most charitable way? Some things for me to work on here.

BTW, keeping a journal is working very well for me PF!!!

Marie · #6 Aug 17, '05, 1:12 pm

Peter and the disciples had a hard time with this too as I see it. In the Gospels, we read of Peter and others wanting things of this world, and eternal life. They were willing to do some, but other things sounded much too risky for them. Certainly prudence of judgement in what was truly good and what was needed was the lesson Christ was trying to teach them.

I tell you this: there is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother, father or children, or land, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much- houses, bothers and sisters, mothers and children, and land - and persecutions besides; and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-31

Jesus was explaining that to attain heaven, his disciples must be willing to give up all. There would be blessings and persecutions but in the end it would lead to eternal life and joy. Peter never forgot that I should think, for he wrote much later:

It gives you a share in Christ's sufferings, and that is a cause for joy; and when His glory is reveled, your joy will be triumphant. 1 Peter 4:14

Giannawannabe · #7 Aug 17, '05, 2:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie

Jesus was explaining that to attain heaven, his disciples must be willing to give up all. There would be blessings and persecutions but in the end it would lead to eternal life and joy. Peter never forgot that I should think, for he wrote much later:

It gives you a share in Christ's sufferings, and that is a cause for joy; and when His glory is reveled, your joy will be triumphant. 1 Peter 4:14

When Jesus asks us to be willing to give up all, he's not necessarily telling us to sell everything we have, leave our families etc. in order to follow him. He only asks us to be willing to do so. This is the first time I have seen this passage in this way. In the past, I thought Jesus was telling us that we had to give everything up in order to be followers. Is this what is meant by becoming detached to worldly things? Merely being willing to give up everything for Christ?

**Ani Ibi** · #8 Aug 17, '05, 4:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giannawannabe

When Jesus asks us to be willing to give up all, he's not necessarily telling us to sell everything we have, leave our families etc. in order to follow him. He only asks us to be willing to do so. This is the first time I have seen this passage in this way. In the past, I thought Jesus was telling us that we had to give everything up in order to be followers. Is this what is meant by becoming detached to worldly things? Merely being willing to give up everything for Christ?

Thanks for this Gianna. I do think it is a question of being willing. Of being detached from things.

Marie · #9 Aug 17, '05, 4:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giannawannabe

When Jesus asks us to be willing to give up all, he's not necessarily telling us to sell everything we have, leave our families etc. in order to follow him. He only asks us to be willing to do so. This is the first time I have seen this passage in this way. In the past, I thought Jesus was telling us that we had to give everything up in order to be followers. Is this what is meant by becoming detached to worldly things? Merely being willing to give up everything for Christ?

Yes, I think it is too. Remember Abraham being asked to offer his only son? His heart must have been breaking, yet he was willing to do as Our Father Asked him to. As we know, in the end...God provided the sacrifice.

Quaere Verum · #10 Aug 17, '05, 4:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giannawannabe

When Jesus asks us to be willing to give up all, he's not necessarily telling us to sell everything we have, leave our families etc. in order to follow him. He only asks us to be willing to do so. This is the first time I have seen this passage in this way. In the past, I thought Jesus was telling us that we had to give everything up in order to be followers. Is this what is meant by becoming detached to worldly things? Merely being willing to give up everything for Christ?

Excellent point Giannawannabe. I've had difficulty understanding these words of Jesus in the past; I'd accepted them but didn't understand them. But what you point out is that we should be "willing" to give up. In other words, once again, our lives should be focused on the Lord and then all else will fall into place. And as Kempis said, we should seek the counsel of those wiser than ourselves. They will help us maintain that focus. Spiritual direction anyone?

antiaphrodite · #11 Aug 18, '05, 12:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanderAimlessly

How many times to we rush to judgment about something or someone? For me, it is way too often (mainly when I am driving).
PF

antiaphrodite · #12 Aug 18, '05, 1:09 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giannawannabe

When Jesus asks us to be willing to give up all, he's not necessarily telling us to sell everything we have, leave our families etc. in order to follow him. He only asks us to be willing to do so. This is the first time I have seen this passage in this way. In the past, I thought Jesus was telling us that we had to give everything up in order to be followers. Is this what is meant by becoming detached to worldly things? Merely being willing to give up everything for Christ?

wow...i don't think i ever thought of it this way before. thank you for sharing this!!!!

CarolAnnSFO · #13 Aug 18, '05, 4:53 pm

"Because we are frail we are always ready to believe the worst of people."

I've had to struggle with this, and still do (although it's gotten somewhat easier since I became a Franciscan.

)

"If you are humble and submissive to God's will, you will have peace in all you do."

There's that "humility" again! A very important quality. I still have to pray to know what God's will is in my life -- it's never laid out simply for me.

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wisdom 3:5 · #14 Aug 18, '05, 5:31 pm

Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. 8 Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations.

I really would like to have a spiritual director. I do find myself calling friends, coming to this board

in search of advice. It would be nice to have that accountability to someone specific.

D Quintero · #15 Aug 18, '05, 8:07 pm

I often wake up everyday too preoccupied to kneel and prey at my prayer table. I often think about my new school, getting sick, or I just don’t fell happy. I watch the news in the morning instead of praying. The fact is that the news is of people who speak, I must pray first to God, then it will be like a domino effect where God guides me to be more patient and to be more wiser. I will prey more now. Prayer is better then a year of watching news.