Smugness Can Kill

Everyone, it seems to me, wants comfort and stability. We seek balance and equilibrium to save us from all the stressing and straining.But too much comfort and a life of ease only serves to weaken not only one’s body and one’s spirit as well. A muscle not used eventually atrophies and dies. A spirit not challenged eventually experiences boredom and succumbs to angst and ennui. Like a frog, in warm water slowly rising in temperature, eventually gets boiled to death; smugness can kill.

It is also quite clear that life is not easy and that its essence is one of struggling and stretching and reaching out. It is all the stretching out and straining that enables the caterpillar to emerge out of its cocoon to become a butterfly. it is the irritating grain of sand that enables the oyster to produce a pearl. It is the decay and rot of the seed that allows new life to sprout and grow.

These are among the truths that I know in my heart and soul and yet often refuse to see, praying for more ease and comfort in my life. Few people ever pray for more stress, more suffering, more challenges. Indeed, nobody is so blind as one who refuses to see.

“Disturb us, O Lord when we are too well-pleased with ourselves
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little,
because we sailed too close to the shore.” Bishop Desmond Tutu

As Jesus went on his way, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Matthew 9:27-31