Here's another good word from James Keating, from his book Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion, p. 83:
What we aim for in the disciplines of Lent is the purification of our desires, not their eradication. The warped desires that encompass the satisfaction of selfishness or the descent into self-hate remain the focus of Christ's purifying Spirit.
Desire is the seed of love, so it needs only to be watered from fresh, life-giving sources, not dammed up entirely. In the end, our purified desires are conveyances for union with what is good and holy, as we aim to be friends with Christ through grace. In this way, we come to love virtue together with Christ. It is this love that constitutes one of our deepest bonds with him. It is a bond cemented in prayer.
In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/
912-267-0333
Photo: sunset reflecting on the sand
at Mexico Beach, Florida
December 2005
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