Enduring Beauty

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  “Beauty is the quality which makes to endure. In a house that I know, I have noticed a block of spermaceti lying about closets and mantel-pieces, for twenty years together, simply because the tallow-man gave it the form of a rabbit; and, I suppose, it may continue to be lugged about unchanged for a century. Let an artist scrawl a few lines or figures on the back of a letter, and that scrap of paper is rescued from danger, is put in portfolio, is framed and glazed, and, in proportion to the beauty of the lines drawn, will be kept for centuries. Burns writes a copy of verses, and sends them to a newspaper, and the human race take charge of them that they shall not perish.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson. (1803–1882).   Essays and English Traits.

The Freedom of True Spirituality (part 2)

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“But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. . . . Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:14, 17-18)

When Christ removes the veil, our lives are transformed and we can be truly spiritual. We can be free to do everything we should spiritually. If we remove the veil ourselves, we momentarily ignite our own glory but this eventually fades.

The world talks of “secrets” to success;well, here’s the secret to true Spirituality: we don’t create our own spirituality ourselves. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Cor 3:17)

Here’s another way to look at it: if I can’t control my body functions (who makes their heart been and organs operate?) what confidence do I have in constructing my own meaningful spirituality? Christ must do it through His Spirit.

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