As I examine my life, I see it littered with little sufferings. Some are simple—interruptions, inconveniences, annoyances. Some are a bit bigger—a family member’s health crisis, financial difficulties, a job that is not fulfilling my expectations, or watching your child grow into adulthood —beyond the suffering and illness and even death. Trauma, tragedy, it’s all there no matter what our vocational state—suffering is part of all lives.
It’s easy to let our daily sufferings go to waste, but we ought not to waste them. They are the little thorns handed to us to suffer through, and to suffer through well. We don’t have to look for our crosses. They are right here before our very eyes. Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on earth which are fleeting. We need to seek the things above by detaching ourselves from the things of this life.
This might feel too lofty or cerebral, but remember, we have it easy—it’s all right here. Our little discomforts, the desire to be right, to smile when we’d rather not, to give even more when we feel we’ve got nothing left to give. This is how we store up our heavenly treasures, this is how we live a life detached, this is how we become souls who cling to Heaven. We learn to suffer well in detachment.
We need to seek things above by detaching from things in this life. This is a key to living the spiritual life. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Matthew 6:21
Lord, help me to see all the tiny crosses You offer me each day, and help me to embrace them with all the tenderness that You embraced Yours.
Smitten With Goodness 