“When our possessions are attached to our hearts, if the tempest, or the thief, or the pettifogger take away some portion of them from us, what complaints we make, how troubled we are and how impatient! But if our possessions are only attached to the care which God wishes us to have for them, and not to our hearts, if they are taken away from us, we do not lose our good sense or peace of soul.”
Francis de Sales (1567-1622) in Introduction to the Devout Life, ed. and trans. by Allan Ross (Mineola: Dover, 2009) 154.
Today I celebrate the birth of my favorite spiritual director (and the love of my life), Jenni Hoag. She introduced me to this classic work back when she read it in her “Christian Spiritual Formation and Soul Care” certificate program at Denver Seminary. Read it to strengthen your inner person (cf. Ephesians 3:14-21).
Twice a day (when we are both home) we take our dog on a one mile walk together. This photo was taken on our walk a few days ago.