Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
“All perfection consists in keeping a guard upon the heart. Wherever we are, we can make a solitude in our hearts, detach ourselves from the world, and converse familiarly with God.”
Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 10 June reading.
There’s a lot in this short verse and short post.
We must start by reminding ourselves that perfection in biblical terms relates to maturity. From Margaret charges us to guard our hearts. As Solomon notes, everything flows from there.
Then she mentions three powerful ideas which might come together to encompass everything: solitude in our hearts, detachment from the world, and conversing familiarly with God.
Think about it.
Only when we make solitude in our hearts and detach from the world can we experience that rich relationship with God.
About a month and a half ago I made solitude by having a surrender novena weekend. It was a few days where I determine to detach from the world and trust Jesus to take care of everything.
That mindset stayed with me. It purified my communion with him.
This positioned me to live, give, serve, and love generously. If your life is crazy. Pursue solitude, detach from the world, and commune with God. This positions you to serve as a conduit of blessing.
And I am learning this way of thinking and living puts you on the path to maturity.
I have a way to go but thankful for people in my life modeling perfection.