Some things we read, read us

I like reading ... haven’t always, but it’s become part of lifestyle over the years. I read current stuff, technical stuff, amusing stuff, downright heavy-stuff and old stuff. Some of the old stuff doesn’t always seem old ... often it’s kinda new, well fresh. I’ve been reading some older stuff, real old, much older than me even. The writer is one Thomas A’ Kempis (1380-1471), who wrote one main book, and still in print. Some books you read as object, others read you ... A’ Kempis engages me in a dialogue.

“There are some people who are peaceful themselves and who also enjoy peace with others. There are some who neither have peace themselves nor who leave others in peace; they are irksome to others but more irksome to themselves. And there are still others who are peaceful themselves and who try to guide others back to peace. Yet, all the peace we have in this life must be rooted more in humble perseverance than in a lack of difficulties. The person who knows best how to continue on patiently will remain at peace better than anyone else. Such a person is a conqueror of themself and a master of the world, a friend of Christ and heaven's heir”.

In the way A’ Kempis dialogues with me I grasp that a good person and a peaceful person are not two different types of person, but a “concurrent person”. I can resonate between his words describing a peaceful person and a self-question; “have I ever been in the presence of a peaceful person?” … it gets a yes answer. What they brought into my life situations, was what was within them … reminds me of Jesus’ closing words … “peace I leave with you, my peace I give into you, totally unlike the world’s peace … so then, neither let your heart be troubled or afraid”. (DPV)